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JV^ 


1.0 


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■50   ■"■     M^H 


U      t-^  IIIIM 


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1.25  i  1.4 


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Tl 
to 


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n 


D 


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Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covara  damagad/ 


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Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
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Cover  titia  misaing/ 

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Encra  d9  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I      I   Colourad  plataa  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  an  coulaur 


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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Tl 

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fii 


Oi 
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si( 
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fii 

Sl( 

or 


Tl 

Tl 
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be 

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re 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  retio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


24X 


28X 


n 

32X 


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premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  termlnant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ".  Ie 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


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entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  Illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
fiimAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
at  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i 


i 


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If 

I 


THE    NORTH   AMERICAN 
SLIME-MOULDS 


0U5I6{ 


S!^^ 


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VI 
3 


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'.•) 


'i: 

< 
Q 

UJ 
U. 
LU 


THE     NORTH    AMERICAN 
SLIME-MOULDS 


BEING  A   LIST   OF 


ALL   SPFXIKS    OF    MVXOMYCKTES    HITHERTO 

DKSCRIIiKD    FROM    NORTH    AMI-RICA, 

INCLUDING   CExNTRAL   AMERICA 


BY 


THOMAS  H.  MACHRIDE,  A.M.,  Ph.D. 

PROFESSOR  OF  BOTANY  IN  THE  STATK  UNIVERSITY  OF  IOWA 


KTfto  gorfe 
THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON:  MACMILLAN  AND  CO..  Ltd. 
1899 

All  rights  reserved 


It 


1 


I 


Copyright,  1899, 
Bv  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 


i 


yortoooli  ^Srtsa 

J.  8.  CushiiiK  &  Oi.  -  UcTwiik  <c  Smith 
Norwoud  Masi.  U.ii.A. 


"Willst  du  dich  am  Canzen  erquicken, 
So  musst  du  das  Ganzc  im  kleinsten  erblickcn. 

"  Bcnutze  rcdlich  dcine  Zcit, 
VVillst  was  begrcifcn,  sucli  nicht  wcit." 

Goethe. 


'i>^\Aa 


i\ 


"  Diesc  Kinder  der  Natur  welclic  aiis  ciner  ungcformtcn 
Callcit  uiul  uincm  iiir.iclitljaren  SaaniL-a  ciitstilicn  sind  im 
stanck'H,  in  dmi  sic  sicli  nach  und  nacli  enlwickcin  und  ilire 
schcinbar  naclil;u,si<,'c  IJildun-;  gcnau  bcobachten  (lasscn), 
el)en  so  sehr  als  die  schiinste  I'tianze  eincm  cmprindiichcn 
Hciv.cn  die  ticfo  Aclitiuiy;  und  das  paradicsisclie  Vcrs^Miiiijcn 
zu  veisclialVcn  welches  einzii,'  die  HetracIitiniL,'  der  Ileere 
dcr  Natur  und  ilirc  j,deiclil)Ieibende  Eriialtung  durch  cine 
ewige  Kraft  hervorbri.  'en  kann."' 

A.  J,  G.  C.  Hatsch  (1783). 


TABLE    OF   CONTENTS 


I*i<t:rACE      .         .        .         . 
Inirodultokv     . 
'I'm:  Myxo.mycf.tks     . 

I.VDKX  OF  ("iK.NKRA 
iNUr.X  OF  Si'F.CIF.S 
PUTFS,   WITH    KXI'LAXATIONS 


•  • 


•  • 


•  • 


rA(,r. 
ix 

I 

223 

2  2.1 

233 


vil 


J 


i1 


PREFAC 


The  present  work  has  grown  out  of  a  monograph  entitled 
Myxomycctes  of  Eastern  lozva,  published  by  the  present  author 
about  eight  years  ago.  The  original  work  was  intended  chieHy 
for  the  use  of  the  author's  own  pupils ;  but  interest  in  the 
subject  proved  much  wider  than  had  been  supposed,  and  a 
rather  large  edition  of  that  little  work  was  speedily  exhausted. 
At  that  time  literature  on  the  subject  in  question  — literature 
accessible  to  English  readers  — was  scant  indeed.  Cooke's 
translation  of  Rostafinski,  in  so  far  as  concerned  the  species 
of  Great  Britain,  was  practically  all  there  was  to  be  consulted 
in  English. 

In    1893   appeared    in   London  Massee's   Monograph  of  the 
Myxogastrcs,  and  two  years  later  in  the  same  world's  centre 
the    trustees   of    the    British     Museum    brought   out    Lister's 
JSfycctosoa.      Although    these    two    English   works  both    claim 
revision  of  the  entire  group  under  discussion,  the  latter  paying 
special    attention    to  American  forms,   nevertheless  there  stiH 
seems  place  for  a  less  pretentious  volume  which  for  American 
students  shall  present  succinct  descriptions  of  North  American 
species  only.     The  material  basis  of  the  present  work  consists 
of  collections  now  in  the  herbarium  of  the  State  University  of 
Iowa.     In  accumulating  the  material  the  author  has   had  the 
generous  assistance  of  botanists   in   all   narts   of  the  country, 
from   Alaska  to  Panama,  and  the  geographical  distribution  is 
in   most  cases  authenticated   by  specimens  from  the  localities 
named.      The    descrii)tions,   in   case  of    species  represented  in 
Europe,  are  based  upon  those  of  European  authors ;  for  forms 
first  described  in   this   country,  the  original  descriptions  have 
been  consulted.     A  bibliography  follows  this  preface. 


LX 


PREFACE 


w 


In  reference  to  the  omnipresent  vexed  question  of  nomen- 
clature, a  word  is  perhaps  necessary.  De  Candollc's  rule, 
"  the  first  authentic  specific  name  published  under  the  genus  in 
which  the  species  now  stands,"  may  be  true  philosophy,  but  it 
is  certainly  an  open  question  how  that  rule  shall  be  applied. 
If  an  author  recognized  and  defined  a  given  species  in  times 
past,  and,  in  accordance  with  views  then  held,  assigned  the 
species  to  a  particular  genus,  common  honesty,  it  would  seem, 
would  require  that  his  work  be  recognized.  To  assume  that 
any  late  writer  who  may  choose  to  set  to  familiar  genera  limits 
unknown  before  shall  thereby  be  empowered  to  write  all  species 
so  displaced  his  own,  as  if,  forsooth,  now  for  the  first  time  in 
the  history  of  science  published  or  described,  is  not  only  abso- 
lutely and  inexcusably  misleading,  but  actually  increases  by 
just  so  much  the  amount  of  debris  with  which  the  taxonomy  of 
the  subject  is  already  cumbered. 

In  face  of  a  work  so  painstaking  and  voluminous  as  that  of 
Rostafinski,  and  in  view  of  the  almost  universal  confusion  that 
preceded  him,  it  would  seem  idle  to  change  for  reasons  purely 
technical  the  nomenclature  which  the  Polish  author  has  estab- 
lished. Especially  is  this  true  in  the  case  of  organisms  so  very 
perishable  and  fragile  as  those  now  in  question,  where  com- 
parative revision  is  apt  to  result  in  uncertainty.  We  had  pre- 
ferred to  leave  the  Rostafinskian,  i.e.  the  heretofore  current, 
nomenclature  untouched ;  but  since  other  writers  have  pre- 
ferred to  do  otherwise,  we  are  compelled  to  recognize  the 
resultant  confusion. 

Slime-moulds  have  long  attracted  the  attention  of  the  student 
of  nature.  For  nearly  two  hundred  years  they  fnd  place  more 
or  less  definite  in  botanical  literature.  Micheli,  1729,  figures  a 
number  of  them,  some  so  accurately  that  the  identity  of  the 
species  is  hardly  to  be  questioned.  Other  early  writers  are 
Buxbaum  and  Diller.ius.  But  the  great  names  before  Rosta- 
finski are  Schrader,  Persoon,  and  Fries.  Schrader's  judgment 
was  especially  clear.  In  his  Nova  Genera,  ^797,  he  recognizes 
plainly  the  difference  between  Slime-moulds  and  everything  else 


Si 


PREFACE 


XI 


i 


that  passed  by  the  name  of  fungus,  and  proposed  that  they 
should  be  set  off  in  a  family  by  themselves ;  ^  but  he  suggested 
no  definitive  name.  Nees  (C.  G.)  also  made  the  same  observa- 
tion m  1817,  and  proposed  the  name  ^Erogastrcs ;  but  he  cites 
as  type  of  his  /1-rogastres  Eurotium,  and  includes  so  many 
fungi,  that  it  seems  unsafe  now  to  approve  his  nomenclature  2 
Schrader  also  has  left  an  excellent  account  of  the  Cribrarias 
the  basis  of  all  that  has  since  been  attempted  in  that  genus. 

Persoon,  in  his  Synopsis,  1801,  attempts  a  review  of  all  the 
fungi  known  up  to  that  time.  His  notes  and  synonymy  are 
mvaluable,  enabling  us  to  understand  the  references  of  many  of 
the  earlier  authors  where  these  had  otherwise  been  indefinite  if 
not  unintelligible.  He  makes  a  great  many  changes  in  nomen- 
clature,  and  excuses  himself  on  the  ground  that  he  follows  in 
this  particular  illustrious  examples. 

Fries,  in  his  Systcma  Mycologicmn,  1829,  summed  up  in  most 
wonderful  way  the  work  of  all  his  predecessors  and  the  myco- 
logic  science  of  his  time.     In  reading  Fries  the  modern  student 
hardly  knows  which  most  to  admire,  the  author's  far-reachin- 
patient  research,  the  singular  acumen  of  his  taxonomic  instincT 
the  graceful  exactness  of  the  Latin  in  which  his  conclusions  are 
expressed,  or  the  delicate  courtesy  with  which  he  touches  the 
work,  even  the  most  primitive,  of  those  his  predecessors  or  con- 
temporaries.     Nevertheless   i.:  our  particular  group  even  the 
determinations  of  Fries  are  not  conclusive.     He  himself  often 
confesses  as  much.     The  microscopic  technique  of  that  day  did 
not  yield  the  data  needful  for  minute  comparison  among  these 
most  delicate  forms.     It  remained  for  De  Bary  and  Rostafinski 
to  introduce  a  new  factor  into  the  description  of  species,  and  by 
spore  measurement  and  the  delineation  of  microscopic  detail  to 
supply  an  element  of  definiteness  which  has  no  parallel  in  the 
work  of  any  earlier  student  of  this  group.     Under  these  con- 

^  Schrader,  Nova  Plantamm  Genera,  1797,  pp.  vi.-vii. 

late'r^rr^"'^''  f '""',  '''  '^'  '^''''''  '""^  ^'i^'htingly  of  Xees,  hut  does  not  hesitate 
later  on  to  copy  d.rectly  without  credit  the  younger  Nees's  figures.  V.  Rost.,  Man., 
laD.  lA.,  iMgs.  161-163. 


.^> 


Xll 


PREFACE 


ditions  the  revision  undertaken  by  Rostafinski  was  of  a  most 
heroic  sort.  His  work  was  almost  a  new  beginning ;  and  while 
in  nomenclature  he  was  inclined  to  follow  the  Paris  Code,  yet 
the  inadequacy  of  the  earlier  descriptions  often  made  such  a 
course  impracticable.  The  synonymy  of  Rostafinski  is  largely 
that  of  Fries,  and  upon  this  the  Polish  author  attempts  to  apply 
the  law  of  priority.  In  the  historical  note,  ivzuiianka  his- 
toryczna,  accompanying  the  description  of  each  specific  form, 
he  generally  states  the  reason  for  the  nomenclature  he  adopts, 
whether  selected  from  the  mass  of  supposed  synonymy  or  intro- 
duced by  himself  dc  novo.  Unfortunately,  Rostafinski  is  some- 
times purely  arbitrary  in  his  selections.  He  sometimes  changes 
a  specific  or  even  generic  name,  otherwise  correctly  applied, 
simply  because  in  primary  etymological  significance  the  name 
seems  to  him  inaopropriate.  In  such  cases  it  is  proper  to 
restore  the  earlic.  -....me.  Nevertheless  Rostafinski  is  still  our 
most  trustworthy  guide. 

Of  course,  where  later  investigations  have  served  to  obliterate 
the  once-thought  patent  distinctions  between  supposed  genera 
or  species,  it  is  proper  to  unite  such  forms  under  the  older 
determinable  title,  and  this  we  have  attempted.  But  wherever 
in  the  present  work  a  name  has  been  changed,  the  name  of  the 
earlier  author  will  be  found  in  brackets,  followed  immediately 
by  that  of  him  who  made  the  change,  and  in  general,  recent 
practice,  especially  as  expressed  in  the  rules  of  the  various  codes, 
has  determined  the  puzzling  questions  of  nomenclature. 

In  justification  of  the  use  of  Myxomycctes  as  a  general  title  it 
may  be  said  that  in  this  case  prevalent  usage  is  not  inconsistent 
with  a  rational  application  of  the  rules  of  priority.  The  Friesian 
designation  Myxogastrcs  was  applied  by  its  author  in  1829  to 
the  endosporous  Slime-moulds  as  a  section  of  Gasteromycetous 
Fungi.  Four  years  later  Link,  perceiving  more  clearly  the 
absolute  distinctness  of  the  group,  substituted  the  name  Myxo- 
mycctes. In  the  same  year  Wallroth  adopted  the  same  desig- 
nation, but  strangely  confused  the  limitations  of  the  group  he 
named.     Wallroth  seems  to  have  thought  Myxomytetes  a  syn- 


PREFACE 


XI 11 


or 


onym  for  Gastcmnycctcs  Fries.     In  1858  Dc  Bary  applied  the 
^  Mycctozoa  to  a  group  which  inckided  the  then  lately  dis- 
covered Acrasicce  with  the  true  Slime-moulds,  both  endosporous 
and  exosporous.     For  all  except  the  Acmsicce  De  Bary  retained 
the    old    appellation,    Myxoviycctcs.       Rostafinski    adopted    De 
Bary's  general  name,  but  changed  its  application.     As  it  has 
been  shown,  since  Dc  Bary's  time,  that  the  Acrasiac  have  no 
true  Plasmodium,  and  are  therefore   not   properly,  or  at   least 
necessarily,  as.sociated  with  the  Slime-moulds,  there  appears  no 
necessity  for  tho  term  Mycctor:oa,  and  the  question  lies  between 
Myxogastrcs    and    Myxoviycctcs.      Of    these    two    names    the 
former,  as  we  have  seen,  has  undoubted  j^riority,  but  only  as 
applied  to  the  endosporous  species.     The  same  thing  was  true 
of  Link's  designation  until  De  Bary  redefined  it ;  but  havin^ 
been  taken  up  by    n-  Bary,  redefined,  and  correctly  applied"^ 
MvxoMVCETES  (Link)  De   Bary  must   remain    the    undisputed 
title   for   all   true    Slime-moulds,  endosporous   and  exosporous 
alike. 

In  arranging  the  larger  divisions  of  the  group  the  scheme  of 
Rostafinski  has  been  somewhat  modified  in  order  to  give  expres- 
sion to  what  the  present  author  deems  a  more  natural  sequence 
of  species.  The  highest  expression  of  Myxomycetan  fructifica- 
tion is  doubtless  the  isolated  sporangium  with  its  capillitium. 
This  is  reached  by  successive  differentiations  from  the  simple 
Plasmodium.  The  aethalium  may  be  esteemed  in  some  instances 
a  case  of  degeneration,  in  others  of  arrested  development.  In 
any  event,  in  the  present  arrangement,  tethalioid  forms  are  first 
disposed  of,  leaving  the  sporangiate  species  to  follow  from 
plasmodiocarpous  as  directly  as  may  be. 

The  artificial  keys  herewith  presented  proceed  on  the  same 
plan,  and  are  to  be  taken,  as  such  keys  ahvays  are,  not  as 
definitive  in  any  case,  but  simply  as  an  aid  to  help  the  student 
more  speedily  to  reach  a  probable  satisfactory  description. 

For  collections  of  materials  representing  various  localities 
and  for  various  assistance,  the  author  would  express  obliga- 
tions   to    Mr.    P.    Bartsch,    Washington,    D.   C. ;    Mr.    H.  "c. 


XIV 


PREFACE 


\ 


Beardslee,  Ohio ;  Mr.  E.  Bethel,  Colorado ;  Mr.  Hugo  Bil- 
gram,  Philadelphia  ;  Professor  T.  J.  Burrill,  Illinois ;  Professor 
L.  Celakowsky,  Jr.,  Prague ;  Professor  E.  T.  Durand,  New 
York;  Professor  J.  B.  Ellis,  New  Jersey;  Professor  W.  G. 
Farlow,  Harvard  University ;  Professor  F.  L.  Harvey,  Maine  ; 
Mr.  E.  W.  D.  Holway,  Iowa ;  Rev.  A.  B.  Langlois,  Louisiana ; 
Dr.  John  Macoun,  Ontario ;  Mr.  A.  P.  Morgan,  Ohio ;  Pro- 
fessor L.  H.  Pammel,  Iowa;  Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck,  New  York; 
Professor  A.  B.  Seymour,  Harvard  University ;  Mr.  A.  L. 
Shear,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Mr.  Charles  L.  Smith,  Mexico;  Dr. 
W.  C.  Sturgis,  Connecticut ;  W.  N.  Suksdorf,  Washington ; 
Professor  William  Trelcase,  Missouri ;  Professor  L.  M.  Under- 
wood, New  York;  Professor  H.  F.  Wickham,  Iowa;  Mr.  H.  F. 
Wingate,  Philadelphia.  Professor  Shimek  of  the  University  of 
Iowa  has  collected  for  me  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  from 
Wisconsin  to  Nicaragua,  and  has  been  of  constant  assistance, 
especially  in  dealing  with  such  literature  as  is  written  in  Slavic 
dialects ;  my  assistant,  Mr.  T.  E.  Savage,  has  also  brought  me 
rich  collections  from  different  regions,  from  Missouri  to  Washing- 
ton and  Oregon ;  Mr.  Charles  Irish  has  collected  in  California 
and  Nevada,  and  generous  friends  in  varous  parts  of  the  coun- 
try have  contributed  specimens  from  every  section,  I  am  also 
indebted  to  Mr.  Arthur  Lister  for  a  set  of  English  forms.  My 
thanks  are  due  to  my  artists,  whose  names  appear  with  their 
work. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


The  following  are  the  principal  works  consulted  in  the  prose- 
cution of  the  investigations  here  recorded  : 


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Cienkowski,  L.     Zur  Entwickelungsgeschichte  der  Myxomyceten. 
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(jmelin,  C.  C.     Systema  Xatiira".  Tom.  II.,  Pars.  ii. 

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HotTman,  (i.  C.     Ucutschlands  Flora. 

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Kerner,  Anton.  PHanzenleben. 

Massee,  George.     Monograph  of  the  Myxogastres. 

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Synopsis  Methodica  Fungorum. 
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Myxomycetes  Danias. 
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Versuch  eines  Systems  der  Mycetozoen. 
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Roth,  A.  VV.     Tentamen  Floras  Germanicae. 

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m. 
jorura. 


'      '  r 


i 


1' 


>tl 


"M 


I 


If 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


INTRODUCTORY 

The  Myxomycetes,  or  Slimc-moulds,  include  certain  very 
dci  ate  and  extremely  beautiful  fungus-like  organisms  comn  o' 
n  11  the  mo,st  and  v  .ded  regions  of  ,l,e  earth.  Deriv L" 
s  s tenance  as  they  for  the  most  part  do,  in  the  decompo si  ™ 
products  of  organic  matter,  they  are  usually  to  be  fouid  Z 
or  near  decaying  logs,  sticks,  leaves,  and  otlr  m  s       o   Te 

en    t  ■  "      "■"  '"'  ^'"^""y  "'  --"  '"^""ial  is  suffi- 

cient to  msure  continuous  moisture.     In  fruit,  however  as     Ul 

r::  rThe-'""^""''""^  -^^"""^ "-  -^j-sor;: : 

such  the  cveeeding  intlsrof.Hc l'^;  h^rrr  T"""^''' 

fCnatt"""^  ''"'-''  '-'  '-'  .He'  r  'orof'^ul^ 

fascmat.on,  m  some  respects,  at  least,  the  most  interestL  and 

remarkable  that  falls  beneath  our  lenses  '"'"«""g  and 

The  Slime-moulds  present  in  the  course  of  their  life  history 

^.ThariVthr  ■ '';  "^"'"■"  -  -™'""-  ^^- 

cases    in7      •  '■'■/"■"'^"cf'^r.     The  former  is  in  many 

g    erarr:r""    "'    ""^'°"    """^^''"^'^  ■-     '"c    latter 
generally  receives  more  or  less  attention  at  the  hands  of  th. 

collector  of  fungi.    The  vegetative  phase  differ   from   he  co  re 

pondent  phase  of  all  other  plants  in  that  it  exhibTts  evtreme" 

n!i  t?:;    TT'  "  "™""^  "'^'  '"-y  "^  -"^"^  '^H 

proteid    „  fo.m  and  amoeboid  in  its  movements.     This  phase 

of  the  Shme-mould  is  described  as  plasmodial,  and  it  is  pro^:: 


^1 

'.I 


S  THE  XOKTH  AMERICAN  Sl.lMi:  MOILDS 

to  desii(nate  the  vo^otativc  phase  in  any  species,  as  the 
plasmviiiiDH  of  the  s|)ocies.  It  was  Idrmerly  taii;;ht  that 
the  Plasmodium  is  imiccllular,  hut  more  recent  invesli,L;ation 
has  shown  that  the  plasmodial  protoplasm  is  not  only  mulli- 
nuclear  but  karyol\inetic  ;  its  cells  divide  and  redivide,  as  do 
the  riftoiiitctivc  cells  of  plants  and  animals  ^^Mierally.  Never- 
theless, in  its  jilasmodial  phase,  the  Slime-mould  is  hardly  to 
be  distin^aiished  from  any  other  protoplasmic  mass,  may  be 
compared  to  a  ^Mant  anKL'ba,  and  justifies  in  so  far  the  views  of 
those  systematists  who  wt)uld  remove  the  Slimc-mould  from  the 
domain  of  the  botanist  alto^^ethcr,  and  call  them  animals.  The 
Plasmodium  is  often  quite  large.  It  may  frequently  be  found 
covering  with  manifold  ramifications  and  net-like  sheets  the 
surface  of  some  convenient  substratum  for  the  space  of  several 
square  feet. 

The  substance  of  the  plasmodium  has  about  the  consistency 
of  the  white  of  an  egg;  is  dij)pery  to  the  touch,  tasteless,  and 
odorless.  Plasmodia  vary  in  color  in  different  species  and  at 
different  times  in  the  same  species.  The  prevailing  tint  is 
yellow,  but  may  be  brown,  orange,  red,  ruby-red,  violet,  in  fact 
anything  but  green.  Young  plasmodia  in  certain  species  are 
colorless  {C/ioiuiyiodcnna  Jiofifoniw),  many  have  a  peculiar  ecru 
or  creamy  tint  difficult  to  define.  Not  only  does  the  color 
change,  sometimes  more  than  once  in  the  course  of  the  life 
history  of  the  same  species,  but  it  may  be  the  same  for  several 
forms,  which  in  fruit  are  singularly  diverse  indeed,  so  that 
the  mere  color  of  the  plasmodium  brings  small  assistance  to 
the  systematist.  In  fact,  the  color  depends  no  doubt  upon  the 
presence  in  the  plasmodium  of  various  matters,  more  or  less 
foreign,  unassimilated,  possibly  some  of  them  excretory,  dif- 
fering from  day  to  day.  In  its  plasmodial  state,  as  has  been 
said,  the  Slime-mould  affects  damp  or  moist  situations,  and 
is  found  during  warm  weather  in  humus,  on  piles  of  rotten 
leaves,  straw,  but  especially  on  and  in  the  wet  tissues  of  rotten 
stumps  and  logs.  In  such  a  situation  the  protoplasm  spreads 
over  all  moist  surfaces,  creeps  through  the  interstices  of  the 


\ 


i 


a/TKODULivKr 


i 


\ 


I 


rotting  bark,  sprcruls  between  tbe  cells,  between  tbc  j^rowtb- 
laycrs  ol  the  wood,  runs  in  corded  vein-like  nets  between  the 
wood  and  bark,  and  finds  in  all  these  cases  nutrition  in  the 
products  ol  orj^anic  decomposition.  Such  a  plasniodiuin  may 
be  divided,  and  so  Ion;;  as  suitable  surroundin,i;s  are  main- 
tained, each  part  will  manifest  all  the  properties  ol  the  whole. 
Tarts  of  the  same  plasmodium  will  even  coalesce  a^^ain.  It  a 
piece  of  plasmodium-bearint;  wood  be  brou.L,dit  indoors,  be 
jirotected  from  desiccation  by  aid  of  a  moist  dark  clKunber,  not 
too  warm  (70'  F.),  the  or^^anism  seems  to  sutler  little  if  any 
injury,  but  will  continue  for  days  or  weeks  to  manifest  all  the 
phenomena  of  living  matter.  Thus,  under  such  circumstances, 
the  Plasmodium  will  constantly  chan^^e  shape  and  position,  can 
be  induced  to  spread  over  a  plate  of  moist  ^^lass,  and  so  be 
transferred  to  the  stage  of  a  microscope,  there  to  exhibit  in  the 
richest  and  most  interestinjj^  and  abundant  fashion  the  stream- 
in<i  protoplasmic  currents.  As  just  indicated,  the  plasmodia 
follow  moisture,  creep  from  one  moist  substance  to  another, 
especially  follow  nutritive  substrata.  They  seem  also  to 
secure  in  some  way  exclusive  possession.  I  have  never  seen 
them  interfered  with  by  hyphx'  or  enemies  of  any  sort,  nor  do 
they  seem  to  interfere  with  one  another.  Plasmodia  of  two 
common  species,  Ilcmiarcyiia  chxvata  and  //.  riibiforniis,  are 
often  side  by  side  on  the  same  substratum,  but  do  not  mix,  and 
their  perfected  fruits  presently  stand  erect  side  by  side,  each 
with  its  own  characteristics,  entirely  unaffected  by  the  presence 
of  the  other.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  probal)le  that  some  of 
the  forms  which,  judged  by  their  different  fructifications,  and 
by  this  alone,  are  to  us  distinct,  may  be  more  closely  related 
than  we  suspect,  and  puzzling  phases  which  show  the  distinc- 
tive marks  supposed  to  characterize  different  species  arc  no 
doubt  sometimes  to  be  explained  on  the  theory  of  plasmodial 
crossing  ;  they  are  hybrids. 

Under  certain  conditions,  low  temperature,  lack  of  moisture, 
the  Plasmodium  may  pass  into  a  resting  phase,  when  it  masses 
itself  in  heaps  and  may  become  quite  dry  in  lumps  of  consid- 


fW«^«»T3E«i»*;S»rfj^^l 


I*.,   a.rrstni^M.I 


t 


i        1 


i 


i! 


\i\ 


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it 


4  Tl/r  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 

erable  size,  and  so  await  the  return  of  favorable  conditions 
when  former  activity  is  quickly  resumed.  Sometimes  the 
larger  plasmodia  pass  into  the  resting  phase  by  undergoing  a 
very  peculiar  change  of  structure.  In  ordinary  circum.stances 
the  abundant  free  nuclei  demonstrable  in  the  plasmodium 
afford  the  only  evidence  of  cellular  organization.  In  passing 
now  into  the  condition  of  rest,  the  whole  protoplasmic  mass 
separates  simultareously  into  numerous  definite  polyhedral  or 
parenchymatous  cells,  each  with  a  well-developed  cellulose 
xvall}  When  the  conditions  essential  to  activity  are  restored, 
the  walls  disappear,  the  cellulose  is  resorbed,  and  the  Plas- 
modium resumes  its  usual  habit  and  structure. 

The  plasmodial  phase  of  the  Slime-mould,  like  the  hyphal 
phase  of  the  fungus,  may  continue  a  long  time  ;  for  months, 
possibly  for  years.  The  reason  for  making  the  latter  statement 
will  presently  appear.  But  however  long  or  short  the  plas- 
modial phase  continue,  the  time  of  fruit,  the  reproductive  phase, 
at  length  arrives.  When  this  time  comes,  induced  partly  by  a 
certaiii  maturity  in  the  organism  itself,  partly  no  doubt  by  the 
trend  of  external  conditio.is,  the  plasmodium  no  longer  as 
before  evades  the  light,  but  pushes  to  the  surface,  and  appears 
usually  in  some  elevated  or  exposed  position,  the  upper  side  of 
the  log,  the  top  of  the  stump,  the  upper  surface  of  its  habitat, 
whatever  that  may  be  ;  or  even  leaves  its  nutrient  base  entirely 
and  finds  lodging  on  some  neighboring  object.  In  such  emer- 
gency the  stems  and  leaves  of  flowering  plants  are  often  made 
to  serve,  and  even  fruits  and  flowers  afford  convenient  resting 
places.  The  object  now  to  be  attained  is  not  the  formation  of 
fruit  alone,  but  likewise  its  speedy  desiccation  and  the  prompt 
dispersal  of  the  perf^^cted  spores.  Nothing  can  be  more 
interesting  than  to  watch  the  Slime-mould  as  its  plasmodium 
accomplishes  this  its  last  migration.  If  hitherto  its  habitat  has 
been  the  soft  interior  of  a  rotten  log,  it  now  begins  to  ooze  out 
in  nil  directions,  to  well  up  through  the  crevices  of  the  bark  as 
if  pushed  by  some  energy  acting  in  the  rear,  to  stream  down 

^  De  Bary,  Morphology  and  Biology  of  Ihe  Fungi,  p.  428. 


I 

I 
I 


INTRODUCTOR  Y 


5 


■5 


upon  the  ground,  to  flow  in  a  hundred  tiny  streams  over  all  the 
region  round  about,  to  climb  all  stems,  ascend  all  branches, 
even  leaves  and  flowers,  to  the  height  of  many  inches,  all  to 
pass  suddenly  as  if  by  magic  charm  into  one  widespread,  dusty 
field  of  flying  spores.      Or,   to  be  more  exact,   whatever  the 
position    ultimately   assumed,    the    plasmodium    soon    becomes 
quiescent,  takes  on  definite  and  ultimate  shape,  which  varies 
greatly,  almost  for  each   species.      Thus  it  may  simply  form 
a   flat,    cake-like    mass,    cctlialinm,   internally   divided    into    an 
indefinite  number  of  ill-defined  spore  cases,  sporangia ;  or  the 
Plasmodium  may  take  the  form  of  a  simple  net,  plasmodiocarp, 
whose  cords  stand  out  like  swollen  veins,  whose  meshes  vary 
both  in  form  and  size;   or  more  commonly  the  whole  proto- 
plasmic mass  breaks  up  into  little  spheroidal  heaps  which  may 
be  sessile  directly  on  the  substratum,  or  may  be  lifted  on  tiny 
stems,    stipitate,    which    may   rest    in    turn    upon    a    common 
sheet-like    film,    or    more   or   less    continuous    net,    spreading 
beneath  them   all,  the  hypothallus.      In  any  case,  each  differ- 
entiated   portion    of   the    plasmodium,   portion    poorly  or   well 
defined,  elongate,  net-like,  spheroidal,  elHptical,  or  of  whatever 
shape,  becomes  at  length  a  sporangium,  spore  case,  receptacle 
for  the  development  and  temporary  preservation  of  the  spores.^ 
The  Slime-moulds  were  formerly  classed  with  the  gasteromy- 
cetous   fungi,   puff-balls,   and    in    description    of   their   fruiting 
phase  the   terms   applicable    to    the  description  of  a   puff-ball 
arc    still    employed,   although    it  will  be   understood    that    the 
structures    described    are  not    in    the    two  cases    homologous  ; 
only  analogous.     The  sporangium  of  the  Slime-mould  exhibits 
usually  a  distinct  pcridiuvi,  or  outer  limiting  wall,  which  is  at 
first    continuous,    enclosing   the    spores    and    their    attendant 
machinery,  but  at   length   ruptures,  irregularly  as  a  rule,  and 
so  .suffers  its  contents  to  escape.     The  peridium  may  be  double, 
varies  in  texture,  color,  jjcrsistence,   and  so  forth,   as  will   be 
more  fully  set  forth  in  the  several  specific  descriptions.     The 
peridium  blends  Avith   the   hypothallus  below  when  such  struc- 


See,  however,  Ceratiovi 


ly.xa,  p.  1 7,  following. 


'II 


6  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 

ture  is  recognizable,  either  directly,  when  the  sporangium  is 
sessile,  or  by  the  intervention  of  a  stipe.  The  stipe  may  be 
hollow,  may  contain  coloring  matter  of  some  sort,  or  may  even 
contain  peculiar  spore-like  cells  or  spores ;  is  often  furrowed, 
and  in  some  cases  shows  a  disposition  to  unite  or  blend  with 
the  stalks  of  neighboring  sporangia.  In  many  cases  the  stipe 
is  continued  upward,  more  or  less  definitely  into  the  cavity  of 
the  sporangium,  and  there  forms  the  coliunclla,  sometimes 
simple  and  rounded  like  the  analogous  structure  in  Mucor 
inuccdo,  sometimes  as  in  ComatricJia,  branching  again  and  again 
in  wonderful  richness  and  complexity. 

Each  sporangium  is  at  maturity  filled  with  numerous  unicellu- 
lar s)  ores.  These  are  usually  spherical,  sometimes  flattened  at 
various  points  by  mutual  contact ;  they  are  of  various  colors, 
more  commonly  yellow  or  violet  brown,  are  sometimes 
smooth  (.''),  but  generally  roughened  either  by  the  presence 
of  minute  warts,  or  spines,  or  by  the  occurrence  of  more  or 
less  strongly  elevated  bands  dividing  reticulately  the  entire 
surface.  The  spores  are  in  all  cases  small  (0.003-0.020  mm.) 
and  reveal  their  surface  characters  only  under  the  most  excel- 
lent lenses.  Associated  with  the  spores  in  the  sporangium 
occurs  the  capillitium.  This  consists  of  most  delicate  thread- 
or  hair-like  elements,  offering  the  greatest  variety  both  in  form 
and  structure.  The  threads  composing  the  capillitium  are  not 
to  be  regarded,  even  when  free,  as  cells,  nor  even  of  cellular 
origin  ;  they  arc  on  the  other  hand,  in  such  a  case,  simply 
shreds  and  strands  of  the  original  plasmodium,  portions  that 
have  not  been  used  in  the  formation  of  spores,  and  arc  accord- 
ingly modified  in  such  wise  as  to  be  useful  in  spore-dispersal. 
The  capillitium  threads  may  be  solid  or  hollow,  they  may 
occur  singly  or  be  combined  into  a  net,  they  may  be  terete  or 
flat,  attached  to  the  pcridial  wall  or  free,  simple  or  adorned 
with  bands  or  spires  and  knobs  in  every  variety,  uniform  or 
profusely  knotted  and  thickened  at  intervals,  and  burdened 
with  calcic  crystals.  In  many  cases,  as  remarked,  the 
capillitium  contributes  materially  to  the  dispersal  of  the  spores ; 


.3 


nVTR  01)  UCTOR  V 


in  others,  it  doubtless  contributes  mechanically  to  the  support 
of  the  peridial  wall,  and  renders  so  far  persistent  the  delicate 
sporangium.  For  more  exact  description  the  reader  is  again 
referred  to  the  specific  delineations  which  follow. 

The  transition  from  phase  to  phase  requires,  as  intimated, 
no  great  length  of  time.  Tilmadochc  gyrocephala  completed 
the  transition  from  vegetative  to  fruiting  phase  in  less  than 
eighteen  hours. 

The   germination   of   the   spores   ensues   closely  upon   their 
dispersal  or  maturity  and  is  unique  in   many  rcsjiects.     The 
wall   of  the   spore  is  ruptured  and   the    protoplasmic  content 
escapes  as  a  zoospore  indistinguishable  so  far  from  an  ama,-ba. 
or   from    the    zoospore    of    our   Chytridiaceous    fungi.      This 
amoeboid   zoospore    is    without    cell  wall,    changes    its  outline, 
and  moves  slowly  by  creeping  or  flowing  from  point  to  ])oint.' 
At  this  stage    many  of   the   spores  assume  each   a  flagellate 
cilium,  and  so  acquire  power  of  more  rapid  locomotion.     The 
zoospores,    whether    ciliate    or    not,    thus    enjoy    independent 
existence   and    are   capable    of   continuing   such   existence   for 
some  time,  assimilating,  growing,  and  even  reproducing  them- 
selves  by    simple    fission,    over   and   over   again.      This  takes 
place,    of   course,    only   in   the   presence   of\suitable    nutrient 
media.      Nevertheless  the  spores  of  many  species  germinate 
quickly  simply  in  water.     A  drop   suspended  in    the   form   of 
the  ordinary  drop  culture  on  a  cover-glass  affords  ample  opj)or- 
tunity.     In  the  course  of  time,  usually  not  more  than  two  or 
three  days,   the  swarm  s])orcs  cease  their  activity,  lose  their 
cilia,  and  come  to  rest,  exhibiting  at  most  nothing  more  than 
the  slow  ama«boid  movement  first  referred  to.     In  the  course 
of  two  or  three  days  more,  the  little  spores  begin  to  assemble 
and    flow    together;    at    first    into    small    aggregations,    then 
larger,  until  at  length  all  have  blended  in  one  large  creeping 
protoplasmic  mass  to    form   thus  once  again  the  plasmodium^i 
or    plasmodial    phase    with    which    the   round    began.      Small 
Plasmodia    may   generally   be    obtained    artificially   from    drop 
cultures.     Such,  however,  in  the  experience  of  the  writer,  are 


'  ^' 


i 


\\ 


•'I 


r« 


■;   ■ 


:  1 


, 


8 


T//E  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


with  difRculty  kept  alive.  Hay  infusions,  infusions  of  rotten 
wood,  etc.,  may  sometimes  give  excellent  results.  The  spores 
of  Didymiiini  criistacctim  were  sown  upon  a  heap  of  leaves  in 
autumn.  An  abundant  display  of  the  same  species  followed  in 
the  next  June  ;  but,  of  course,  the  intervening  phases  were 
not  observed.  The  most  satisfactory  studies  are  obtained  by 
Plasmodia  brought  in  directly  from  the  field. 

With  such  a  life  history  as  that  thus  briefly  sketched,  it  is 
small  wonder  that  the  taxonomic  place  of  the  Slime-moulds  is 
a  matter  of  uncertainty,  not  to  say  perplexity.  So  long  as 
men  studied  the  ripened  fruit,  the  sporangia  and  the  spores, 
with  the  marvellous  capillkium,  there  seemed  little  difficulty  ; 
the  My.vomycetes  were  fungi,  related  to  the  puff-balls,  and  in 
fact  to  be  classed  in  the  same  natural  order.  The  synonomy 
of  some  of  the  more  noticeable  species  affords  a  very  inter- 
esting epitome  of  the  history  of  scientific  thought  in  this 
particular  field  of  investigation.  Thus  the  first  described 
Slime-mould  identifiable  by  its  description  is  Lycogala  cpidcn- 
drnm  (Buxb.)  Fries,  the  most  puff-ball-looking  of  the  whole 
series.  Ray,  in  1690,  called  this  Fungus  coccmcus.  In  171 8, 
Ruppius  described  the  same  thing  as  Lycopcrdon  sanguinciitn  ; 
Dillenius  at  about  the  same  time,  as  Bovista  miniata;  and  it 
was  not  until  1729,  that  Micheli  so  far  appreciated  the  structure 
of  the  little  puff-ball  as  to  give  it  a  definite  generic  place  and 
title,  Lycogala  globositm  .  .  .,  etc.  But  Michcli's  light  was  too 
strong  for  his  generation.  As  Fries,  one  hundred  years  later, 
quaintly  says :  " .  .  .  immortalis  Micheli  tarn  claram  lucem 
accendit  ut  successores  proximi  earn  ne  ferre  quidem  potuerint." 
Notwithstanding  Michcli's  clear  distinctions,  he  was  entirely 
disregarded,  and  our  little  Lycogala  was  dubbed  Lycopcrdon 
and  HTncor  down  to  the  end  of  the  century ;  and  so  it  was  not 
till  1790  that  Persoon  comes  around  to  the  standpoint  of 
Micheli  and  writes  Lycogala  miniata.  Fries  himself,  reviewing 
the  labors  of  his  predecessors  all,  grouped  the  Slime-moulds  as 
a  sub-order  of  the  Gasteromycetes  and  gave  expression  to  his 
view  of  their  nature  and  position  when  he  named  the  sub-order 


if 


liVTRODUCTORV 


Myxflgastrcs.  In  1833,  Link,  havinj;  more  prominently  in 
mind  the  minuteness  of  most  of  the  species  collocated  by 
Fries,  and  perceiving  perhaps  more  clearly  even  than  the  i^reat 
mycologist  the  entire  independence  of  the  group,  suggested 
as  a  substitute  for  the  sub-order  JMyxogastrcs,  the  order 
]\Iyxomycctcs,  Slimc-vionlds.  Link's  decision  passed  unchal- 
lenged for  nearly  thirty  years.  The  Slime-moulds  were  set 
apart  by  themselves  ;  they  were  fungi  without  question  and,  of 
course,  plants. 

If  the  hypha  is  the  morphological  test  of  a  fungus,  then  it 
is  plain  that  the  Slime-nuulds  are  not  fungi.  No  myxomycete 
has  hypha?,  nor  indeed  anything  at  all  of  the  kind.  Never- 
theless, there  are  certain  parasitic  fungi  {CJtytridiacic),  wliose 
relationships  plainly  entitle  them  to  a  place  among  the  hyphate 
forms,  that  have  no  hypha;  whatever  in  the  entire  round  of 
their  life  history.  These  are,  however,  exceptional  cases  and 
really  do  not  bear  very  closely  on  the  question  at  issue. 

Physiologically,  the  fungi  are  incapable  of  independent 
existence,  being  destitute  of  chlorophyl.  In  this  respect  the 
Slime-moulds  are  like  the  fungi ;  they  are  nearly  all  sapro- 
phytes and  absolutely  destitute  of  chlorophyl.  Unfortunately 
this  physiological  character  is  identically  that  one  which  the 
fungi  share  with  the  whole  animal  world,  so  that  the  startling 
inquiry  instantly  rises,  are  the  Slime-moulds  plants  at  all .'' 
Arc  they  not  animals .''  Do  not  their  amaiboid  sj^ores  and 
Plasmodia  ally  them  at  once  to  the  amoeba  and  his  congeners, 
to  all  the  monad,  rhizopodal  world }  This  is  the  position 
suggested  by  De  Bary  in  1858,  and  adopted  since  by  many 
distinguished  authorities,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned 
Saville  Kent,  of  England,  and  Dr.  William  Zopf,  of  Germany 
{Die  PilrstJiicrc,  18S5).  Rostafinski,  who  was  a  pupil  of 
De  Bary's,  and  whose  monograph  on  the  Slime-moulds 
was  written  under  De  Bary's  supervision,  adopts  the  title 
"  Mycetozoa,"  suggested  by  his  master  as  indicating  a  closer 
relationship  with  the  animal  world,  but  really  has  little  to  say 
in  regard  to  the  matter. 


i! 


I   \ 


I 


l! 


10 


T//E  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


Dr.  Schroctcr,  a  recent  writer  on  the  subject,  after  showing 
the  probable  connection  between  the  phycochromaceous  Algas 
and  the  simplest  colorless  forms,  namely,  the  Schizomycetes, 
goes  on  to  remark :  "  At  the  same  point  where  the  Schizomy- 
cctous  series  take  rise,  there  begin  certain  other  lines  of 
development  among  the  most  diminutive  protoplasmic  masses. 
.  .  .  Through  the  amoebx  one  of  these  lines  gives  rise  on  the 
one  hand  to  rhizopods  and  sponges  in  the  animal  kingdom,  on 
the  other  to  the  ]\Iyxomycctcs  among  the  fungi."  This  ranges 
the  Myxomycetes,  in  origin  at  least,  near  the  Schizomycetes. 

The  recent  studies  of  Dr.  Thaxter,  resulting  in  the  discovery 
and  recognition  of  a  new  group,  a  new  order  of  the  Schizomy- 
cetes, strikingly  confirm  the  judgment  of  Schroeter.^  Here 
we  have  forms  that  strangely  unite  characteristics  of  both  the 
groups  in  question.  If  on  the  one  hand  the  Myxobacteria  are 
certainly  Schizomycetes,  on  the  other  they  just  as  certainly 
offer  in  their  developmental  history  "  phenomena  closely 
resembling  those  presented  by  plasmodia  or  pseudo-plas- 
modia.  .  .  ."  Now  the  Schizophytes  certainly  pass  by  gra- 
dations easy  to  the  filamentous  Alga^,  and  so  to  relationship 
with  the  world  of  plants,  and  the  discovery  of  the  Myxobacteri- 
accc  brings  the  Myxomycetes  very  near  the  vegetable  kingdom 
if  not  within  it. 

All  autho'-ities  agree  that  the  Myxomycetes  have  no  connec- 
tion in  the  direction  of  upward  development,  "  Kcincn  An- 
schluss nach  oben  " ;  if  then  their  only  relationship  with  other 
organisms  is  to  be  found  at  the  bottom  (centre)  of  the  series 
only,  it  is  purely  a  matter  of  indifference  whether  we  say  plant 
or  animal,  for  at  the  only  point  where  there  is  connection  there 
is  no  distinction. 

But  why  call  them  either  animals  or  plants }  Was  Nature 
then  so  poor  thac  forsooth  only  two  lines  of  differentiation 
were  at  the  beginning  open  for  her  effort  .-*  May  we  not  rather 
believe  that  Life's  tree  may  have  risen  at  first  in  hundreds  of 
tentative  trunks  of  which  two  have  become  in  the  progress  of 

1  Botanical  Gazette,  XVII.,  pp.  389,  etc.;  1S92. 


; 


1 

1 


INTRODUCTORY 


II 


the  ages  so  far  dominant  as  to  entirely  obscure  less  progressive 
types  ?  The  Myxomycetes  are  independent ;  all  that  we  may 
attempt  is  to  assert  their  nearer  kinship  with  one  or  other  of 
Life's  great  branches. 

The  cellulose  of  the  Slime-mould  looks  toward  the  world 
of  plants.  The  aerial  fructification  and  stipitate  habit  of  the 
higher  forms  tends  in  the  same  direction.  The  disposition  to 
attach  themselves  to  some  fixed  base  is  a  curious  characteristic 
of  plants,  more  pronounced  as  we  ascend  the  scale ;  but  by  no 
means  lacking  in  many  of  the  simplest,  Diatoms,  filamentous. 
Algx,  etc.,  and  it  is  quite  as  reasonable  to  call  a  Vorticella  or 
Stentor,  by  virtue  of  his  stipitate  form  and  habit,  a  plant  as  to 
call  a  Slime-mould  an  animal  because  in  one  statre  of  its 
history  it  resembles  an  amojba.  The  whole  life  of  the  organ- 
ism in  any  case  must  be  taken  into  account.  At  the  outset 
plants  and  animals  are  alike ;  there  is  no  doubt  about  it ;  they 
differ  in  the  course  of  their  life  histories.  The  plasmodium 
is  the  vegetative  phase  of  the  Slime-mould.  It  needs  no  cell- 
walls  of  cellulose,  no  more  than  do  the  dividing  cells  of  a 
lily-endosperm  ;  both  are  nourished  by  organic  food  and  resort 
to  walls  only  as  conditions  change.  The  possession  of  walls 
is  an  indication  of  some  maturity.  In  the  Slime-mould  the 
assumption  of  walls  is  indeed  delayed,  but  merely  delayed. 
Walls  at  length  appear,  and  when  they  do  come  they  are  like 
those  of  the  lily ;  they  are  cellulose.  The  Myxomycetes  may 
be  regarded  as  a  section  of  the  organic  world  in  which  the 
forces  of  heredity  are  at  a  maximum,  whatever  those  forces 
may  be.  Slime-moulds  have  in  smallest  degree  responded  to 
the  stimulus  of  environment.  They  have,  it  is  true,  escaped 
the  sea,  the  fresh  waters  in  part,  and  become  adapted  to  hab- 
itation on  dry  land  ;  but  nothing  more.  It  is  instructive  to 
reflect  that  even  in  her  most  highly  differentiated  forms  the 
channel  which  Nature  elects  for  the  transmissal  of  that  hered- 
ity may  bestow,  is  naught  else  than  a  minute  mass  of  naked 
protoplasm.  Nature  reverts,  we  say,  to  her  most  ancient  and 
simple  phases,  and  heredity  is  still  consonant  with  simplicity. 


I 


U  !' 


f 


12 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


p 


The  fact  is  the  Myxomycetcs  constitute  an  exceedingly  vvell- 
defincd  group,  and  the  question  of  relationship  in  any  direction 
need  not  much  perplex  the  student.  Least  of  all  is  the 
question  to  be  settled  by  anybody's  dictum,  which  is  apt  to 
be  positive  inversely  in  proportion  to  the  speaker's  acquaint- 
ance with  the  subject.  No  one  test  can  be  applied  as  a 
universal  touchstone  to  separate  plants  from  animals.  Such  is 
simply  petit io  principii.  Nor  is  there  any  advantage  at  present 
apparent  in  attempts  to  associate  Slime-moulds  with  other 
presumably  related  groups.  Saville  Kent's  effort  to  join  them 
with  the  sponges  was  not  happy,  and  Dr.  Zopf's  association 
of  the  Slime-moulds  and  monads  appears  forced,  at  best ;  for 
when  it  comes  to  the  consideration  of  the  former,  their  sys- 
tematic and  even  morphological  treatment,  he  is  compelled 
to  deal  with  them  by  themselves  under  headings  such  as 
"  Kumycetozoen,"  "  Hohere  Pilzthiere,"  etc.  One  rather  com- 
mends the  discreetness  of  th  e  lamented  De  Bary,  whose  pains- 
first    called    attention   to   the   uncertain 


takinjr 


mvestigations 


position  of  the  group.  After  reviewing  the  results  of  all  bis 
labors  De  Bary  does  not  quite  relegate  the  Slime-moulds  to 
the  zoologist  for  further  consideration,  but  simply  says :  ^ 
"From  naked  amoebre,  with  which  the  Mycetozoa  (y  =  Myxo- 
mycetcs) are  connected  in  ascending  line,  the  zoologists  with 
reason  derive  the  copiously  and  highly  developed  section  of 
the  shell-forming  Rhizopoda.  .  .  .  And  since  there  are  suffi- 
cient grounds  for  placing  the  rhizopods  outside  the  vegetable 
and  in  the  animal  kingdom,  and  this  is  undoubtedly  the  true 
position  for  the  amoebne,  which  are  their  earlier  and  simpler 
forms,  the  Mycetozoa,  which  may  be  directly  derived  from  the 
same  stem,  r^re  at  least  brought  very  near  to  the  domain  of 
zoology." 

Notwithstanding  all  the  controversy  in  regard  to  the  matter, 
the  study  of  the  Slime-moulds  still  rests  chiefly  with  the  bota- 
nists. Tae  simplest  scheme  of  classification  for  the  Thallophytes 
is  that  offered  by  Goebel,  as  follows  :  — 

1  Cf.,  1884,  Ver.  Morph.  u.  Biol,  der  Pilz.  Mycd.  u.  Bad.,  p.  478. 


it   A 


IXTRODUCTORY 


13 


% 


I.   Myxomycetcs. 
II.    DiaioDtaiwe. 

T       lOPHVTA-    J  '"•   ^'^^''^'■^Ph'^^f  —  xncXwdtsihtSchisotnycctes  Aw^  Cyano- 

phyit-iC. 
IV.   W/t,'"'^,  excluding  Diatoms  and  Cyatiophycecc. 
V.   Fnngi^  exclusive  Qi  Myxomycdes  and  Schizomycctes. 

Thi.s  arrangement  commits  us  to  no  theory,  and  enables  us 
to  study  together  those  forms  which  by  common  consent  are 
naturally  associated. 

About  400  species  of  Slime-moulds  have  been  described. 
Saccardo  enumerates  443,  inclusive  of  those  denominated  doubt- 
ful or  less  perfectly  known.  These  443  species  are  distributed 
among  47  genera,  of  which  1 5  are  represented  by  but  a  single 
species  each,  —  monotypic.  In  the  United  States  there  have  been 
recognized  about  200  species.  Of  those  here  described,  some 
are  almost  world-wide  in  their  distribution,  others  are  limited  to 
comparatively  narrow  boundaries.  The  greater  number  occur  in 
the  temperate  regions  of  the  earth,  although  many  are  reported 
from  the  tropics,  and  some  even  from  the  arctic  zone.  Schroeter 
found  Physarum  cincreiim  at  North  Cape.  Our  Iowa  forms 
are  most  numerous  in  the  eastern ;  that  is,  the  wooded  regions 
of  the  state.  I  have,  however,  found  PJiysarmn  cincrcum  on 
the  untouched  prairie,  and  on  the  western  deserts,  as  also 
PJiysarum  contcxtiim  on  the  decaying  stems  of  Calaniagvostis. 

As  to  the  economic  importance  of  our  Myxomycetes,  there 
is  no  long  chapter  to  write.  Fries  says  :  "  Usu  in  vita  communi 
parum  admodum  sese  commendant,  sed  in  oeconomia  naturce 
certe  non  spernendi.  Multa  inscctorum  genera  ex  corum 
sporidiis  unica  capiunt  nutrimenta."  However  this  may  be, 
there  is  one  species  which  has  come  to  light  since  Fries's  day 
which  is  the  source  of  no  inconsiderable  mischief  to  the  agricul- 
turist. PlasniodiopJiora  brassiccu  occasions  the  disease  known 
as  the  "club-root"  in  cabbage,  and  has  recently  been  made  the 
subject   of    special   discussion   in   the    jFourfial  of   JMycology} 

^  See  Journal  of  Mycology,  Washington,  D.C.,  Vol.  VII.,  No.  2;  also  IJulletin 
No.  66,  A  iTic.  Station  of  Vermont. 


i 


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ii 


'■"■ 


I 


ii 


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yy/A'  A'OA'/y/  American  si.ime-moulds 


Further  than  this ;  if  Plasmodium  malariic  be  indeed  a  Slime- 
mould,  and  be,  as  is  allej^ed,  the  promoting;  cause  and  agent  in 
malarial  fever,  then  the  group  entire  suddenly  springs  to  most 
unusual  interest  in  the  attention  of  all  mankind.'  Aside  from 
the  injurious  tendencies  possible  or  real  of  these  two,  I  know 
not  that  all  other  Slime-moulds  of  all  the  world,  taken  all 
together,  affect  in  any  slightest  measure  the  hap  or  fortune 
of  man  or  nation.  And  yet,  if  in  the  economic  relations  of 
things,  man's  intellectual  life  is  to  be  considered,  then  surely 
come  the  uncertain  Slime-moulds,  with  their  fascinating  jjrob- 
lems  proffered  still  in  forms  of  unapproachable  delicacy  and 
beauty,  not  without  inspiration. 

Collection  and  Care  of  Slime  mould  Material 

On  this  subject  a  word  may  here  be  appropriate.  As  just 
now  intimated  specimens  may  be  taken  at  the  appropriate 
season  in  almost  any  or  every  locality.  Beginning  with  the 
latter  part  of  May  or  first  of  June,  in  the  Northern  states, 
Plasmodia  are  to  be  found  everywhere  on  piles  of  organic  refuse  : 
in  the  woods,  especially  about  fallen  and  rotting  logs,  undis- 
turbed piles  of  leaves,  beds  of  moss,  stumps,  nor  less  in  the 
open  field  where  piles  of  straw  or  herbaceous  matter  of  any 
sort  sinks  in  undisturbed  decay.  Within  fifty  years  tree-plant- 
ing in  all  the  prairie  states  has  greatly  extended  the  range 
of  many  more  definitely  woodland  species,  so  that  species  of 
Stemonitis,  for  instance,  are  common  in  the  groves  on  farms 
far  into  Nebraska  and  Dakota.  In  any  locality  the  plasmodia 
pass  rapidly  to  fruit,  but  not  infrequently  a  plasmodium  in 
June  will  be  succeeded  in  the  same  place  by  others  of  the 
same  species,  on  and  on,  until  the  cold  of  approaching  winter 
checks  all  vital  phenomena.  The  process  of  fruiting  should  be 
watched  as  far  as  possible  and,  for  herbarium  material,  allowed 
to  pass  to  perfection  in  the  field. 

^  See,  inter  al.,  U.S.  Senate  Misc.  Doc,  "  Report  on  Cholera  in  Europe  and  India," 
pp.  688  et  seq. 


i 


\\ 


INTRODUCTORY 


n 


Specimens  collected  should  he  placed  immediately  in  boxes 
in  such  a  way  as  to  suffer  no  injury  in  transport;  beautiful 
material  is  often  ruined  by  lack  of  care  on  the  part  of  the 
collector.  Once  at  the  herbarium,  si)ecimens  may  be  mounted 
by  sluin^^  the  sui)portin-  material  to  the  bottom  of  a  small  box. 
Bo.xes  of  uniform  size  and  dei,th  may  be  secured  for  the  pur- 
pose. Some  collectors  prefer  to  fasten  the  specimen  to  a  piece 
of  stiff  paper,  of  a  size  to  be  pressed  into  the  box  snu-ly,  but 
which  may  be  removed  at  pleasure,  l-very  jjains  must  in' any 
case  be  taken  to  exclude  insects. 

For  simple  microscopic    examination   it  will  be   found  con- 
venient to  first  wet  the  material  with  alcohol  on  the  slide,  then 
with  a  weak  solution  of  potassic  hydrate,  to  cause  the  spores 
and  other  structures  to  assume  proper  plumpness.      A   little 
glycerine  may  be  added  or  run  under  the  cover  if  is  desired 
to  preserve  the  material  for  further  or  prolonged  study.     For 
permanjnt    mounting    nothing    in    mo.st    cases   is    better   than 
glycerine  jelly.     As  a  preparation,  the  material  should  lie  for 
some   time    in    Hantsch's    fluid,    opportunity   being   given    for 
evaporation   of   the   alcohol   and  water.      When    the    material 
shows  the  proper  clearness  and  fulness,  it  may  be  mounted  in 
jelly  in  the  usual  way.     Kaiser's  formula  gives  beautiful  results. 
After  mounting,  the  preparation  should  be  sealed  with   some 
good  cement,  as  Hollis's  glue. 


i. 


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l6  TJ/£  NORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 

THE   MYXOMYCETES  (/.////•)  De  Bary. 

Chloropliyl-lcss  or^:inisms  whose  vc^^ctative  phase  consists 
of  a  naked  mass  of  nuilthuiclear  protoi)lasm,  X.\\c  f^Idsiiioiiiiim ; 
rei)rodiieecl  l)y  spores  which  are  either  free  or  more  commonly 
enclosed  in  sporanj^ia,  and  which  on  germinatin<;'  produce 
ciliated  or  amceboid  zoospores,  whose  coalescence  gives  rise  to 
the  iilasmodium. 

The  Myxomycetcs  are  either 

A.  J\vasites,  in  the  cells  of  livinj;  plants       .         .         .       Piiyto.myxin.I!: 

or 

li.  Saprophytes,  developed  in  connection  with  decaying  vegetable  matter : 

a.  WiUi  free  spores Kxosi'okk.e 

b.  VVitli  spores  in  receptacles  or  sporangia    .        .       Myxogastkes 

Suh-Class  PHYTOMYXINyE  Schroctcr. 
1889.     Phytoinyxime  Scliroeter,  Engl.  u.  Rrantl,  I.  i.,  pp.  i  and  5. 

The  parasitic  Myxomycetcs  include  but  few  (four  or  five) 
species,  distributed  among  four  genera.  They  are  all  parasites 
in  the  cells  of  living  plants  ;  their  vegetative  phase  is  plasmodial, 
and  their  spores  are  formed  by  the  simultaneous  breaking  up 
of  the  Plasmodium  into  an  indefinite  number  of  independent 
cells.     But  a  single  genus  need  here  concern  us,  — 

Plasmodi;'phora  Woronin. 
1S79.     J'lasmodiophora  Woronin,  Pringsh.  JaJirb.^  XI.,  p.  548. 

Parasitic  in  the  parenchymatous  cells  of  the  roots  of  living 
plants :  causing  noticeable  enlargement  of  the  affected  organ, 
producing  at  length  galls,  knots,  and  various  deformities  and 
distortions.     Spores  spherical,  smooth,  colorless,  i6fi. 

I.    Plasmodiophora  brassic/E  Woronin. 

1879.     Plasmodiophora  brassica:  Woronin,  I.e. 

This  species,  the  only  one  so  far  reported  in  this  country. 


i 


EXOSrO/ULE 


17 


I 

i 


infests  the  roots  of  cnbbai^cs,  and  produces  n  very  serious 
disease  of  that  ve^^etable.  In  ICn;^^Iand  the  malady  has  lon^ 
been  known  under  the  names  "dubbin;;,"  "  fin.i^^crs  and  toes," 
etc.  The  roots  affected  swell  ^^reatly,  and  at  len;;th  resemble 
sometimes  the  flexed  finj^^ers  of  the  human  hand  ;  hence  the 
I'Lni^lish  name.  As  the  disease  pro^Tesses,  the  roots  speedily 
rot  away,  to  the  serious  injury  of  the  leaf-bearing  portion  of 
the  plant.  In  badl)  affected  fields,  sometimes  one-half  of  the 
crop  is  utterly  destroyed.  Careful  search  continued  throuj^h 
several  years  has  not  availed  to  brinj;  this  species  to  my  per- 
sonal actjuaintancc. 

For  a  full  account  of  the  parasitism  of  this  species  and  its 
distribution  in  the  United  States,  ace  Jo /n:  J/jr.,  VII.,  p.  79; 
also  />/(//.  66,  Aj^ric.  Sta.  of  Vermont. 


living 
organ, 
;s  and 


Sub-Class   EXO.SPOREyE  Rost. 

1873.     ExQsporcce  Kostaiinski,  Verstich,  p.  2. 

Spores  developed,  superficially,  outside  the  fructification, 
which  consists  of  sporophores,  membranous  or  slender  and 
branching  ;  spores  white,  stalked.     A  single  genus,  — 

Ceratiomyxa  ScJtroctcr, 

1889.  Ccratioiiiyxa  Schroeter,  /-V/i.V.  u.  Prautl,  I.  i.,  p.  16.  For  further 
synonymy,  see  under  first  species. 

Sporangia  none ;  spores  superficial,  borne  on  erect  papilLne 
or  pillars,  or  even  on  the  walls  of  minute  depressions  or  pits ; 
each  spore  surmounting  a  delicate  pedicel  or  stalk.  The  spores 
on  germinating  give  rise  to  amoeboid  zoospores,  which  undergo 
repeated  divisions,  later  become  ciliatc,  and  at  length  again 
amouboid,  to  blend  into  genuine  plasmodia.  At  maturity  the 
Plasmodium  gives  rise  to  numerous  minute  divisions,  each  of 
which  may  lengthen  in  a  direction  perpendicular  to  the  surface 
and  bear  a  spore  at  the  tip. 

The  homologies  between  the  structures  just  described  and 
the  fructification   of   the  ordinary  Slime-mould  are   somewhat 


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TNE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


obscure,  if  indeed  any  really  exist.  Are  these  minute  repro- 
ductive bodies  spores? — their  behavior  on  germination  is  unique  ; 
are  they  sporangia  ?  —  the  arrested  development  they  exhibit 
is  none  the  less  puzzling.  Perhaps  the  sporiferous  pillars  repre- 
sent incipient  stipes,  the  spores  the  uncombined  fragments  of 
what  might  otherwise  have  coalesced  at  the  summit  of  the 
pillar  to  form  a  true  sporangium. 

Several  species  have  been  recognized,  all  referable  probably 
to  one  or  at  most  two  forms  :  — 

I.    Ceratiomyxa  fruticulosa  {Mue!!.)  Macbr. 

Pi-ATK  I.,  Figs.  7  and  7  «. 

1729.  Pitccinia  raviosa  bi/nrcata,  etc.  Micheli,  p.  213,  Tab.  92,  Fig.  2. 

1775.  Byssits  fruticulosa  Mueller  in  EL  Dau.,  t.  718,  Fig.  2. 

1778.  Tremella  hydiioidea  Jacquin,  Misc.,  Vol.  I.,  t.  16. 

1783.  Clavaria  puccinia  Batsch,  Eleuch.  Euui^.,  p.  139,  Fig.  19. 

1 79 1.  Puccinia  byssoidcs  Gmelin,  Syst.  Natune,  p.  1462. 

1791.  Clavaria  byssoidcs  Bulliard,  Chavip.  de  la  Eraiue,  t.  415,  Fig.  2. 

1794.  Isaria  viucida  Pers.,  Romer,  N.  Mag.  Iht.,  I.,  p.  121. 

1801.  Isaria  mucida  Pers.,  Sy/i.  Jli'i/i.,  p.  6SS. 

1805.  Ccratiiiin  hydiioidcs  Alb.  and  Schw.,  Consp.  Fung.,  p.  358. 

1829.  Ceratiuin  Jiydnoidcs  Fries,  SyU.  Myc,  p.  294. 

1872.  Ceratiuin  Jiydnoidcs  Woronin  and  Faniintzin,  Mem.  Acad.  Imp., 
St.  Petersburg. 

1887.  Ccratium  Jiydnoidcs  De  Bary,  Comp.  Mo> ^  ;.  Eun.,  p.  432. 

1889.  Ceratiomyxa  miicida  Schroeter,  Engl.  u.  Prantl  Nat.  Pplanz., 
I.  i.,  p.  16. 

1893.  Ceratiomyxa  mucida  Maci)ride,  Bull.  Nat.  Hist.  Iowa,  II.,  p.  114. 

1894.  Ceratiomyxa  mucida  Lister,  TJie  Mycctozoa,  p.  25. 

Plasmodium  in  rotten  wood,  white  or  nearly  transparent ; 
when  fruiting,  forming  on  the  substratum  mould-like  patches 
composed  of  the  minute  sporiferous  pillars,  generally  in  clusters 
of  three  or  more  together;  .spores  white,  ovoid  or  ellipsoidal, 
smooth,  10-12  X  6  /A. 

Rather  rare,  but  occurring  in  summer  on  shaded  rotten  logs, 
especially  after  warm  showers  and  in  sultry  weather.  PZasily 
distinguishable  from  all  similar  moulds  by  the  absence  of 
mycelium  or  of  anything  like  a  hypha.     In  the  Old  World  the 


EXOSPOKE.E 


19 


plant  seems  to  be  in  autumn  excecdin-ly  common.  Micheli 
not  only  described  the  form  but  figured  it  nearly  two  hundred 
years  ago.  Micheli's  figure  is  good,  as  is  that  of  Mueller, 
FL  Dan.,  I.e.  Mueller  referred  the  species  to  a  Linnean  genus 
Byssus,  which  seems  to  have  included  Algx  rather  than"  any- 
thing else,  if  one  can  determine  its  limits  at  all.  The  same 
tning  is  true  of  rrcmclla ;  but  this  name  is  now  otherwise 
applied,  as  are  ail  the  other  generic  names  down  to  Ccmtinm 
Alb.  and  Schw.  But  this  had  been  by  Schrank  preoccupied' 
1793.  See  the  reference  above  for  1 8S9.  As  for  .specific  name' 
there  seems  no  reason  to  depart  from  the  rule  of  priority,' 
smce  Mueller's  work  is  determinative. 

Common  everywhere  in  summer  on  decaying  sticks  and 
wood  of  every  description,  especially  in  wet  places.  Alaska  to 
Nicaragua. 


2.    Ceratiomvxa  porioides  {Alb.  and  Schw.)  Schroctcr. 

1S05.  Cemtium  porioides  Alb.  and  Schw.,  Co,isp.  Fhih;.,  p   350 

1S29.  Ccratiiim porioides  Fries,  Syst.  Mvc,  III.,  p.  295. 

1873.  Ceralinm  porioides  Fam.  and  Wor..  Mem.  Aead.  Imp.,  XX    3   p  c 

1889.  teraiiomyxa  porioides  Sclnoeter,  Em^l.  „.  Prantl  I    i'  p   16  ' 

1894.  Ceratiomyxa  mucida  Schroet.  var.  porioides  Lister,  MyceU>zoa,  p.  26. 

Entire  fructification  confluent  into  a  mucilaginous  mass 
porose.  Pores  ample,  angulate,  at  length  radiate-dentate.  Spores 
as  in  the  preceding. 

Of  these  two  species  Fries  remarks  :  "  .  .  .  dua^  sunt  dis- 
tmctissmia.,  inter  has  vero  longa  formarum  intermediarum 
series."  Famintzin  and  Woronin  not  only  concur,  but  consider 
It  were  more  fitting  to  place  the  present  species  in  a  distinct 
genus,  as  Polyponts  is  set  off  from  Hydnum.  The  intermediate 
series  is  a  fact,  however,  and  even  specific  difference  hard  to 
maintain  in  this  part  of  the  world.  The  color  is  most  incon- 
stant,—  white,  rosy,  yehow. 

Iowa,  Tennessee,  Missouri.     Probably  common  everywhere. 


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i. ! 


20  THE  NORTH  AJ'IERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 

Sub-Class  MYXOGASTRES  {Fries)  Macbr. 
Myxomycetes  proper. 

1829.  Sub-order  Myxoc;astres  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  67. 

1833.  Sub-order  Myxomycetes  Link,  ILindb.  dcr  Geio.,  3,  p.  405. 

1833.  Sub-order  Myxomycetes  Wallrotli,  Fl.  Crypt.,  II.,  p.  333  (in  part). 

1858.  Cla.ss  Mycetozoa  De  Bary,  Bot.  Zeitung,  1858,  pp.  357-365  (in  part). 

1859.  Class  Myxogastres  Schroeter,  Ettgl.  n.  Prantl  Nat.  J'flanz.,  I.  i., 
p.  16. 

1892.     Class  Myxogastres  (Fries)  JMassee,  Monograph,  p.  28. 
1894.     Class  Mycetozoa  Lister,  Mycetosoa,  p.  21. 

SapropJiytic  Slimc-moiilds.  —  So  far  as  known  the  spores  in 
germination  give  rise  to  zoospores,  at  first  amoeboid,  later  ciliate, 
which  are  capable  of  continued  independent  existence,  increase 
by  fission,  and  finally  coalesce  to  form  the  plasmodial  phase. 
The  fruiting  phase  presents  abundant  minute  unicellular  spores, 
which  are  enclosed  in  sporangia  more  or  less  perfectly  defined, 
and  are  more  frequently  attended  by  peculiar  thread-like  struc- 
tures, formed  from  residual  spore-plasm,  the  capillitium. 

Key  to  the  Orders  of  the  Myxogastres. 

Spore-mass  black  or  violaceous,  rarely  ferruginous  .         .         .       Series  A 

Spore-mass  never  black,  usually  some  shade  of  brown  or  yellow,  rarely 

purplish  or  rosy,  etc. Series  B 


I. 


2. 


I  ; 


Series  A. 

Capillitium  present,  delicate,  thread-like  ;  sporangia  calcareous,  more  or 
less  throughout I.  Phvs/'<ace^e 

Capillitium  present,  thread-like,  arising  usually  as  anastomosing  branches 
from  a  well-developed  columella,  which  in  a  single  genus  contains 
lime;  sporangia  otherwise  non-calcareous      .       II.  Stemonitace/E 

Series  B. 

Capillitium  none,  or  very  imperfectly  developed ;  spores  of  some  shade 
of  brown,  rarely  purplish       .         .         .         .      III.  Cribrariace/E 

Capillitium  the  inwardly  produced  irregular  extremities  of  plates  or 
tubules,  wliich  by  their  interweaving  outwardly  make  up  the  iiJthalial 
wall ;  spores  pale,  ashen        ....        IV.  Lvcogalace/E 

Capillitium  made  up  of  more  or  less  distinctly  sculptured  threads,  parie- 
tal or  free ;  spores  commonly  yellow      .         .         .V.  Tkichiace/E 


l( 


"m 


■I 


PHVSARACEyE 


21 


This  sequence  is  meant  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  presence 
of  lime  is  indicative  of  differentiation  less  complete.  That  the 
Plasmodium  should  at  the  outset  eliminate,  by  refusing  the 
unnecessary  lime,  is  indicative  of  higher  rank  than  that  the  lime 
should  be  carried  until  the  last  and  then  be  crvstallized  out, 
or  excreted  by  simple  desiccation.  The  circumstance  that  the 
excreted  lime  may  sometimes  serve  a  protective  purpose  in 
the  fruit,  does  not  vitiate  the  general  principle.  In  Series  B 
the  differentiation  reaches  a  climax  in  the  perfected  capillitium 
of  the  Trichias. 


Order  I. 
PHYSARACEiE. 

Spores  violaceous  black.  The  capillitium  usually  delicate  and 
thread-like;  peridium  and  capillitium,  one  or  other  or  both, 
more  or  less  extensively  surcharged  with  lime.  Peridium  simple 
or  double.     Fructification  various. 

This  order  is  recognizable  by  several  characteristics,  but  is 
especially  marked  by  the  peculiar  lime  deposits  which  affect 
the  capillitium  or  peridium,  now  one,  now  the  other,  more  often 
both. 

As  here  defined,  the  order  Physaracca;  includes  two  distinct 
families  ;  of  the  one  Physamm,  of  the  other  Didyminm,  is  type. 

Key  to  the  Families  of  the  Order  Physaraceae. 

A.  Fructification  calcareous  throughout ;  capillitium  intricate.    Physare/E 

B.  Calcareous  deposits  confined  to  the  peridium  ;  capillitium  simple. 

DUJV.MIE.E 

A.    PHYSARE^E. 
Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Physareas. 

A.   Fructification  rt'thalioid i.  Fuligo 

/>'.   Fructification  plasmodiocarpous  or  of  distinct  sporangia. 
a.  Peridium  without  lime. 

i.  Plasmodiocarpous 7.  Cienkowskia 

11.  Sporangia  distinct g.  Leocakpus 


'^l 


22 


THE  NORTH  AMEK/CAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


4.  Badhamia 


b.   Pciidium  calc.ircous,  more  or  less  throughout. 
i.  Capillilium  calcareous  throughout 
ii.  Capillilium  in  part  hyaline. 

*  Sjjorangium  vase-like  or  more  or  le.s.s  tubular. 

f  Opening  irregularly,  the  wall  with  inwarrlly  projecting 

calcareous  spines  .         .         .         .5.  Piiysakklla 

■ft  Opening   by  a  lid    or  with  dehiscence   more   or   less 

plainly  circumscissile     ...      6.  Ckatkkil'.m 

**  Sporangia  various,  dehiscence  irregular. 

f  Capillitii.  .1    evenly    branched;    the   calcareous    nodes 

small,  fusiform       .         .         .         .3.  Tilmaijoche 

ft  Capillilium  intricate  ...        2.  Physaklm 


1 


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II     ', 
1'      ' 

!    i 


,!    I 


1.    FuligO  {Hallcr)  Pcrs. 

1753.     Miicor  Linn.,  Sp.  PL  II.,  No.  1656.  (?) 

1768.     E/ilii^o  Halicr,  Hist.  Hch.,  Nos.  1 233-1 235  (in  part). 

iSoi.     Fiilii^o  Haller,  Pers.  Syn.,  p.  159. 

Sporangia  undefined,  obscure,  woven  in  and  out  among 
each  other  to  form  a  large  cushion-shaped,  rethaHoid  mass. 
The  outermost  layer  without  spores,  calcareous,  forming  a  thick 
but  fragile  crust.  The  middle  layer  spore-bearing,  provided 
with  a  calcigerous  capiliitium.  The  lowermost  layer  developed 
as  a  membranous  hypothallus. 

Three  species  of  Fuligo  have  in  the  United  States  been  recog- 
nized. In  deference  to  the  opinions  of  fellow-mycologists 
three  descriptions  are  here  offered.  It  seems  probable  that  all 
are  but  varieties  of  the  old  form  so  long  recognized  in  Europe. 
Persoon  tried  (wS)'//.  MctJt.,  pp.  159-162)  to  establish  several 
species.  Fries  endeavored  to  follow  him  (Sj'sL  Jllfc,  III.,  p. 
93):  "In  plures  species  cum  Persoonio  divellere  Sommcrfclt, 
Greville  et  ijjsc  fnistra  conati  sumus." 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Fuligo. 

A.  .i^thalium  small,  i  cm.  or  less 

B.  /Ethalium  large. 

a.  Spores  pale  by  transmitted  light 

b.  Spores  by  transmitted  light,  violet-tinted 


2.  E.  //lusconim 

I.  F.  ovata 
3.  /•".  violacea 


i\     i 


FULIGO 


23 


Badhamia 

\r. 

S  project  inn; 

HVSAKKI.LA 

ore   or   less 

-KATKKILM 

-ous  nodes 
lmadoche 
Phvsakl.m 


among 
d  mass. 
■  a  thick 
)rovided 
veloped 

1  recog- 

ologists 

that  all 

uirope. 

several 

fll.,  p. 

ncrfclt, 


tscorum 
nolacea 


I 


''I 


I.    FuLiGO  OVATA  (Sc/iacf.)  Macbr. 

I'l.ATK    X.,    Fi<,rs.    2,    2,7.    2b. 

1753.  Mticor  septicus  IXxiw.^Sp.  ri.\\.,y,,).  \(,-^(:,  c^^^, 

1763.  Mucor  ovatus  Scliaeff.,  I'nni;.  Jhiv.,  p.  132,  Kig.  192. 

1791.  Fiili\v  septha  (Linn.)  Gmcl.,  Syst.  Aai.,  p.  1466. 

1826.  Fiilii^o  varians  Sommf..  /■/.  Lapl.  Sup.,  p.  231. 

1809.  .KthaliiunflavHin  Link,  /Jm..  \..  p.  42. 

1829.  .Ethaliitm  septicutn  Fr.,  ^S/.f/'.  J/,'(.,  Ill,,  p.  93. 

1875.  /->/%;  varians  Sommf.,  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  134. 

Plasmodium  bright  yellow;  a^thalium  pale  brown  or  yellowish 
brown,  of  variable  size  and  shape,  one  to  five  inches  in  diameter, 
and  one-half  an  inch  to  an  inch  thick,  enclosed  by  a  distinct 
calcareous  crust,  which  varies  greatly  in  texture,  thickness,  and 
color,  anon  brown,  stout,  persistent,  sometimes  thin,  bright 
yellow,  scarce  recognizable;  capillitium  well  developed  but 
variable  in  color  and  extent;  spore-mass  dull  black,  sooty; 
spores  spherical,  purplish  brown,  smooth,  7-10  /i. 

Very  common  in  summer,  June  to  September,  everywhere. 
On  sultry  summer  days  the  yellow  plasmodium  may  be  found 
abundant,  streaming  over  rotten  straw  or  other  refuse,  about 
barns,  wooden  pavements,  walks,  etc.,  even  in  towns  and  near 
the  homes  of  men.  In  the  woods  Hkewise  abounding;  on  rotten 
logs,  stumps,  leaf-heaps,  everywhere  ;  in  fruiting,  climbing  from 
Its  nutritive  base  and  occupying  some  elevated  position,  several 
feet  up  on  the  stem  of  a  living  tree,  for  instance.  In  such  a 
case  the  cortex  and  hypothallus  are  generally  well  developed. 
In  size  the  aethalia  seem  limited  only  by  the  condition  of  ade- 
quate food  supply.  Specimens  one  foot  in  diameter  have  been 
reported.  Our  largest  plasmodia  spread  over  perhai)s  a  foot 
square;  our  largest  fruiting  mass  is  four  inches  by  six  and 
one-half. 

^  New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  the  Caro- 
Imas,  Tennessee,  Louisiana,  Kansas,  Missouri,  Iowa,  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Ohio,  Canada,  Pacific  Coast. 

Rostafinski  wrote  Fulig-o  varians  Sommerfelt,  admitting  at 
the  same  time  the  priority  of  many  another  combination,  but 
preferring,  as  he  says,  Sommerfelfs  name,  because  he  judged 


24 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 


"^ 


i  ill 


M 


i        'M     '1 


I    <i 


f  id 


it  more  suitable.  The  Linnccan  description  amounts  to  nothing  : 
"  unctHosiis Jlavus''  may  refer  to  any  plasmodium,  Schaeffer,  I.e., 
gives  figures,  supplementing  his  description,  which  leave  little 
doubt  as  to  his  intent.     His  specific  name  is  therefore  adopted. 

2.  FuLiGO  MUSCORUM  Alb.  and  Schiv. 

1805.     I''iili_qo  viHscorum  Alb.  and  Schw..  Cons.  Fung.,  p.  86,  Tab.  VII.  i. 
1875.     Licea  ochracea  Peck,  N.  Y.  Rep.,  XVIII.,  p.  55. 
1879.     Fttligo  ochracea  Peck,  N.  Y.  Rep.,  XXXI.,  p.  56. 

Plasmodium  yellow.  yEthalium  globoid  very  small,  i  cm.  or 
less,  the  cortex  very  thin,  greenish  yellow  ;  capillitium  well  devel- 
oped, the  numerous  calcareous  nodes  fusiform  or  often  branch- 
ing, and  connected  by  rather  short  transparent  internodes ; 
spores  coarsely  warted,  10- 11  ^l. 

This  form  seems  to  differ  from  the  preceding  chiefly  in  its 
constant  diminutive  habit  of  fruiting,  in  its  delicr-te  cortex,  and 
in  its  spores ;  brighter,  larger,  and  more  coarsely  warted.  The 
descriptions  and  figure  by  Schweinitz  seem  referable  to  nothing 
else. 

Our  only  f.pecimens  are  from  New  York,  and  there  is  no 
report  of  the  occurrence  of  the  species  elsewhere. 

3.  Fl'LIGO  violacea  Pcrsoon. 

1801.  FiiUgo  violacea  Persoon,  Syn.  MetJi.,  p.  160. 

1827.  ^Ethaliuin  violaceum  Sprengel,  Syst.,  IV.,  p.  533. 

1829.  .Ft/ialiurn  sepiiciini,  var.  violaceum  Fries,  Syst.  Jfyc,  III.,  p.  93. 

1896.  Fiiligo  violacea  Pers.,  Morgan,  Cin.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  p.  103. 

yEthalium  thin,  two  or  three  inches  wide,  covered  by  a  cortex 
at  first  bright  yellow  and  very  soft,  at  length  almost  wholly 
vanishing,  so  that  the  entire  mass  takes  on  a  purple  violet  tint, 
upper  surface  varied  with  white ;  capillitium  rather  open,  the 
more  or  less  inflated,  large,  irregular  nodes  joined  by  long, 
slender,  delicate,  transparent  filaments ;  spores  dark  violet, 
minutely  roughened,  spherical,  about  7.5  /u,. 

Iowa,  Ohio,  Tennessee.  Probably  everywhere,  but  not  dis- 
tinguished from  No.  i. 


^ 


PHVSARUM 


25 


2.    Physarum  {Pcrsoon)  Rost. 

1795.  Physarum  Pers.,  Ust.  Ann.  Dot.,  XV.,  p.  5  (in  part). 

1 80 1.  Physanini  Pers.,  Syn.  Fung.,  p.  i6cS  (in  part). 

1S29.  Physarum  (Pers.)  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  127  (in  part). 

1875.  Physarum  (Pers.)  Rost.,  J/t;;/.,  p.  93. 

Note.  —  Prior  to  Persoon  the  Physarums  were  variously  referred :  Lyco- 
perdon,  Sphcerocarpus,  Trichia,  etc.  It  seems  unnecessary  to  quote  the 
synonymy  further  here. 

Sporangia  plasmodiocarpous,  oethalioid  or  distinct ;  the  perid- 
ium  usually  simple,  sometimes  double,  irregularly  dehiscent, 
more  or  less  definitely  calcareous ;  capillitium  a  uniform  irregu- 
lar net,  dilated  and  calcareous  at  the  nodes,  adherent  on  all 
sides  to  the  perid'.al  wall. 

This  large  and  cosmopolitan  genus  is  readily  recognized  by 
the  characters  quoted.  It  may  be  added  that  the  capillitial 
threads  are  always  exceedingly  delicate,  probably  tubular,  but 
never  filled  with  lime  throughout ;  the  peridium  may  be  almost 
nude  or  encrusted  with  lime,  which  where  present  is  always 
amorphous,  never  crystalline  ;  the  sporangia  when  distinct  may 
be  either  sessile  or  stipitate,  and  the  stipe  in  the  latter  case  is 
often  hollow  and  charged  with  lime.  In  capillitium  intermediate 
between  Tilmadochc  and  Badhamia,  since  in  the  first  the  capil- 
litial branching  is  limited  and  the  calcareous  deposits  scanty, 
while  in  BadJiamia  the  capillitium  is  intricate  and  calcareous 
throughout. 

As  first  set  up  by  its  founder,  the  genus  included  diverse 
forms,  only  one  or  two  of  which  would  be  included  in  the 
genus  as  now  limited.  Persoon,  however,  was  left  to  develop 
the  matter  to  suit  himself,  and  in  successive  works  gave,  under 
this  generic  name,  more  and  more  prominence  to  forms  now  so 
referred.  Fries,  Syst.  Jfyc,  pp.  127  r/*  saj.,  still  better  establishes 
the  genus,  though  still  including  forms  that,  judging  from 
description,  seem  to  belong  elsewhere.  As  here  used,  the  limits 
of  the  genus  are  those  set  by  Rostafinski. 


26 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Pbysarum. 


It 


li  il 


I 


I.  p.  ellipsosporum 


:.  /'.  siiitiosuin 

3.   /'.  scrpitla 

P.  iicfroidcnm 


8.  /'.  later itiunt 

P.  nibii^iHosuiii 

.  P.  bruniu'oliiin 


A.  Fructification  a.thalioicl 

B.  Fructification  plasmodiocarpous. 

a.  Wliite 

b.  Yellow 

c.  Ciiay,  forms  of  .....  19. 

C.  Fructification  of  distinct  sporangia. 

a.  Sporangia  in  typical  forms  sessile. 

i.  Periduim  red  or  red  brown. 

*  '.'eridiuni  simple  .... 
*'-  Peridium  douL.e.  with  red  flakes,        37, 

***  Peridium  double,  smooth     .         .  7 

ii.  Peridium  yellow  or  ochraceous. 

*  Peridium  simple. 

t  Sporangia  minute,  crowded  spore-mass,  purple, 

1.3.  /'.  thcjoteum 
ft  Sporangia  sessile  clustered,  greenish 
♦*  Peridium  double. 
t  Outer  peridium  reflexed       .         .     6 
tt  Outer  peridium  not  rellexed 
iii.  Peridium  ashen  or  gray. 

*  Peridia  aggregated  in  heaps 
**  Peridia  minute,  scattered 

***  Peridia  larger,  peridia  gray  . 
iv.  Peridium  white  and  double 

b.  Sporangia,  in  typical  forms,  stalked. 

i.  Stipe  generally  short,  less  than  the  diameter  of  the  sporan- 


9.  /'.  virescens 

P.  cotiqlomcratum 
,     5.  P.  context  11  in 

13.  P.  at  rum 

II.  P.  plninbenin 

.     10.  /'.  cinerentn 

4.  /'.  di derma 


*  Fructification  purple    ....       14.  /'.  newtoiii 
**  Fructification  straw-colored  .  15.  /'.  ccespitosnm 

***  Fructification   gray,  calcareous ;    stalk    pale  to  fuscous, 
forms  of  .         .         .         .         .  ig.  P.  nefroideion 

****  Sporangia  blue  gray,  sometimes  capped  witli  lime ;  stalk 
pure  white  when  present,  often  scanty,  weak, 

18.  P.  didermoides 
ii.  Stipe  longer,  greater  than  the  diameter  of  the  sporangium. 

*  Stipe  calcareous,  white. 
\  Columella  none. 

1.  Sporangium  white,  stipe  unfluted,     26.  P.  leucopns 

2.  Sporangium  white,  stipe  channelled,  forms  of, 

19.  P.  7ie/roideitm 
ff*  Columella  evident. 

I.  Sporangium  white        .         .        23.  P.  globiiliferum 
'    2.  Sporangr.um  yellow      .         .         .      25.  /".  melleiim 
**  Stipe  calcareous,  not  white. 


ipsosporum 

'■  siiniosHin 

/'■  SCI  piila 

nefrouiciim 


lateritiiim 

il'jX'/iiosit/// 
*-iinncolii)H 


thcjotcum 
•  vircscens 

■^iiicratum 
contcxtiim 

P.  atrum 

'>lunibeuin 

cinercian 

li liter  III  a 

'i.  sporan- 

ttezutoiii 
spitosum 

fuscous, 
^roideum 
le  ;  stalk 

'nnoicies 


Uferum 
'lelleum 


rilVSARUM 

t  Columella  none. 

1.  Stii)e  crimson 

2.  Stijie  pale,  calcareous  at  top, 

3.  Stine  yellow 
ft  Columella  present. 

1.  Stipe  brilliant  oraneje  . 

2.  .Stijje  dull,  calcareous  within 

3.  Stipe  yellow 
■'**  Stipe  non-calcareous. 

t  Columella  none. 


27 

28.  P.  pidchcrrimunt 

32.     P.    lllniliSt'llllt 

24.  J\  nt  am  latum 

29.  /'.  ni/ipcs 
.  27.  /'.  ra-rciiclii 
■     38.  P.  citrinuin 


"hi-  P- f^alheum 


Sporanfria  yellow. 
a.  Stipe  also  yellow 
/S.  Stipe  reddish  or  fuscous. 

'^  Spores  minutely  spinulose, 

16.  P.  auriscalpium 

°''  Spores  rough  spinulose,        17.  /'.  varialiile 

Sporangia  iridescent ;  lime  none,  or  Hecks  only. 

a.  Stipe  red      .  .         .  30.  y.  psittaciiunn 

(i.  Stipe  fuscous        .         .  34.  P.  jtavkoiiiuin 

y.  Stipe  thick,  black  .         .22.  /'.  tropica te 

S.  Stipe  channelled  .         .         i\.  P.  Icmop/iccum 

Sporangia  white  or  gray,  with  encrusting  lime. 

a.  Sporangia  with  persistent,  non-calcareous  base, 

31.  J\  nodnlosiiin 

/3.  Sporangia  small,  botryoid,    20.  /'.  iiicanjoiwi.  c 

y.  Sporangia  larger,  often  sessile  or  plasmodio- 

carpous    .         .         .  jg.  /^.  ,tefroidcinn 

8.  Capillitium,  w\th  a  white,   central,  calcareous 

35.  /'.  iiiiclcatiiin 


nodule 


tt  Columella  two-thirds  the  height  of  the  sporang 


calcareous 


uim,  non- 


36.  P.  penetrate 


I.   Physarum  ellipsosporum  Rest. 

Plate  X,   Figs.  3,    3^,  and  3*. 

1831.  I^'itcridium  cincrcKiii '?,c\\\\'.,  IV.  A.F.,  ^Q.  216$. 

1875.  Physarum  ellipsosporum  Rost.,  Mon..  App..  p.  10.  • 

18.S4.  ALthaliopsis  stercoriformis  Zopf,  Pihthicre,  p.  150.  « 

1894.  Fuli:ro  cllipsospora  Lister,  Afyceto^oa,  p.  67. 

1896.  Fuligo  cinerea  (Schw.)  Morgan,  Cin.  Soc.  Nat:  Hist.,  p.  105. 

Plasmodium  milk-white,  watery.  Plasmodiocarp  long  and 
wid^.y  effused,  anon  winding,  here  and  there  reticulate,  always 
applanate,  the  peridial  cortex  membranaceous,  firm,  thick,  and 


■ 


^w 


1 


28 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN    SUME-MOC/LDS 


!     t 


fr 

i 


I  :| 


white.    Capillitium  well  developed,  furnished  with  lime.    Spores 
thin-walled,     cLipsoidal,    violaceous,    plicate-rugose,     14-16  x 
11-12  IX. 

Not  common.  F'ound  occasionally  in  shaded  situations  on 
piles  of  rottin^^  .straw.  The  spores  are,  no  doubt,  many  of  them 
ellipsoidal ;  some  are  spherical  ;  all  are  decidedly  spinulose, 
perhaps  might  appear  plicate-rugulose  when  dry  or  shrunken. 
Calcareous  nodules  very  large  and  irregular,  white. 

Schweinitz,  A^.  A.  F.,  2365,  described  this  species  as  Entcriiiiitm 
cincrciun.  Rostafinski  referred  it  to  the  genus  Physanim^  but 
was  obliged  to  adopt  also  a  new  specific  name,  as  that  suggested 
by  Schweinitz  was  already  in  use  in  the  genus  Physarnm.  Zopf, 
Die  Pihtliicrc,  p.  149,  founds  a  new  genus  on  what  seems  to 
be  the  same  form  as  here  considered.  This  he  publishes  as 
Ait/ialiopsis  stcrcoriformis  Z.  Massee  regards  the  specimens 
discovered  by  Zopf  as  belonging  to  the  genus  Fiiligo,  and  Lister 
regards  Rostafinski's  type  as  Fuligo,  and  includes  Zopf's  mate- 
rial under  the  Rostafinskian  species.  The  character  of  the 
capillitium  and  the  spores  is  peculiar,  but  suggests  P/iysanim 
rather  than  Fuligo,  as  does  also  the  calcareous  cortex,  both  in 
its  purity  and  in  the  mode  of  its  deposition.  Small,  isolated 
Plasmodia  are  in  macroscopic  appearance  not  unlike  Physarnm 
didcrma.  Besides,  there  are  no  imperfectly  formed  sporangia, 
as  in  Fuligo. 

Generally  distributed  eastward.  New  England,  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  Alabama,  Iowa. 

2.    Physarum  sinuosum  {Bulliard)  Weinm. 
Plate  VIII.,  Figs.  6  and  6  «. 


1791 
1796 
1828 
1829 

1875 
1892 
1894 
1896 


Rdicidaria  sinuosa  Bulliard,  Chavip.^  p.  94,  t.  446,  Fig.  3. 

Physarum  bivalve  Persoon,  Obs.  Afyc,  I.,  p.  6,  t.  i,  Fig.  2. 

Physarutii  sinuosuiii  Weinmann,  Fries  teste.  I.e. 

PJiysarum  simiosion  Fries,  Syst.  Myc..  III.,  p.  145. 

Physarum  sinuosum  (Ikill.)  Rostafinski,  Mfl)i(\i^raph,  p.  112. 

Physarum  sinuosum  Rost.,  Massee,  Mon.,  p.  305. 

Physarum  bivalve  Pars.,  Lister,  Mycetozoa.  p.  57. 

Angioridium  sinuosum  (Grev.)  Morgan,  Cin.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  p.  75. 


-^1^ 


J'lIVSARL'M 


29 


;7 


4 


Sporangia  distinct  or  plasmodiocarpous,  the  pUismodiocarp 
creeping;  in  long  vein-like  reticulations  or  curves,  laterally 
coni})rcssed ;  sometimes  distinct  and  crowded,  always  sessile. 
Peridium  double ;  the  outer  thick,  calcareous,  fragile,  snow- 
white  ;  the  inner  delicate,  the  dehiscence  by  longitudinal  fissure. 
Capillitium  strongly  developed  with  abundant  white,  calcareous 
granules.     Spores  smooth,  dull  violet,  8-9  fi. 

Easily  recognized  at  sight  by  its  peculiar  form,  bilabiate  and 
sinuous.  Apart  from  microscopic  structure  perfectly  described 
by  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  p.  145.  liulliard  called  it  Ri'ticitlaria 
siiiiiosa.  Habitat  various,  but  not  infrequently  the  upper  sur- 
face of  the  leaves  of  living  plants,  a  few  inches  from  the  ground. 
The  two  sorts  of  fructification  often  occur  side  by  side,  or  merge 
into  one  another  from  the  same  plasmodium.  Where  the  sub- 
stratum affords  room  the  plasmodiocarpous  style  prevails ;  in 
narrower  limits  the  sporangia  stand  singly.  The  calcareous  de- 
posit on  the  outer  peridium  is  very  rich  and  under  a  lens  appears 
made  up  of  countless  snowy  or  creamy  flakes.    N.A.F.,  1394. 

Widely  distributed.  New  England  to  the  Carolinas,  and 
Louisiana,  west  to  South  Dakota  and  Nebraska. 


P-7S- 


3.   Physarum  serpula  Morq: 

Tlate  IX.,  Figs.  6,  6  a,  and  6  b. 

1 83 1.  Physarum  retkidatum  Alb.  and  Schw  Schweinitz,  N.  A.  F., 
No.  2295. 

18S5.     Physarum gyrosum  (Rost.)  Win<rate,  Ellis.  ^V.  //.  F.,  No.  1396. 

1892.     Physarum  gyrosum  Rost.,  Massee.  Mon.,  p.  307. 

1892.  Cienkowskia  reticulata  Rost.,  iMacljiide,  P)ull.  iVat.  Hist,  /oxca, 
II.  2,  p.  150. 

1894.     Badhamia  decipicns  Berk.,  Lister,  Mycctozoa.  p.  33  (in  part). 

1896     Pliysarum  serpula  Morgan,  Cin.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  p.  10 1. 

Plasmodiocarp  repent,  reticulate,  forming  anon  lines,  circles, 

dots,  etc.,  venulosc,  pale  yellow,  ochraceous,  at  length  whitish  ; 

,the  peridium  thin,  membranaceous,  simple,  fragile,  but  withal 

persistent,  below  united  with  a  hypothallus  which  is  more  or 

less  widely  produced ;  capillitium  rather  scant,  but  abundantly 


30 


/•///•;  XORTH  AMIlRIC.liV  Sl.lML  MOULDS 


charged  with  poly^^onal  nodules  of  lime,  yellow ;  spore-mnss 
black ;  the  spores,  by  transmitted  li^ht,  violaceous,  warted, 
globose,  10-13  /Li. 

A  very  distinct  species  not  likely  to  be  confused  with  any- 
thinj;  else,  aithouj^h  in  description,  so  far  as  concerns  external 
characters,  sug<;esting  Ciinko'u'skia  reticulata.  The  two  forms 
are  not  at  all  alike  when  placed  side  by  side.  For  details  as  to 
the  difference,  see  the  description  of  the  species  last  mentioned. 
N.  A.  R,  1396. 

Ai)|)arently  not  rare  in  the  eastern  United  States,  Pennsylva- 
nia, Virjjjinia,  Ohio,  Iowa. 

In  1805,  Albertini  and  Schweinitz,  Conspectus  Fuuj^orum,  p. 
251,  t.  7,  Fi<;.  2,  described  as  PJiysaruui  rcticu/atuui,  an  Eu- 
ropean form  which  became  the  basis  of  Rostafinski's  genus 
Cicnkoivskia.  (See  under  that  genus.)  Later,  1829,  Schweinitz 
discovered  in  America  a  Pliysa}'um-\oi)V\v\^  specimen  which 
he  took  to  be  the  same  thing  and  accordingly  placed  in  his  her- 
barium under  this  name  and  entered  N.  A.  P.,  2295.  Rostafir 
further  renamed  another  Schweinitzian  species,  Fuli^s^o  niuscor,  ., 
calling  it,  Afou,,  p.  in,  Pliysarum  gyrosum.  Wingate  and  Rex 
apply  in  Ellis,  N.  A.  P.,  1396,  this  latter  name  to  No.  2295 
of  Schweinitz.  Such  reference  is  a  mistake,  judging  from  Ros- 
tafinski's descriptions  and  from  the  description  and  figure  of 
Alb.  and  Schw.  {Cousp.  Puug.,  p.  ^6,  t.  7,  i),  and  by  the  testimony 
of  Lister.  Furthermore,  Rostafinski's  species  is  without  foun- 
dation, since  what  he  describes  appears  to  be  a  Pu/igo,  as  Alb. 
and  Schw.  first  supj^osed.  The  name  proposed  by  Morgan 
is  accordingly  the  first  specific  name  accompanied  by  descrip- 
tion and  properly  applied. 


4.    Phvsarum  diderma  Rostafinski. 
1875.     Physarnm  didcrma  Rost..  Moii.,  p.  no. 

Sporangia  clustered,  snow-white,  sessile  or  narrowly  adnata 
at  base,  globose  or  polygonal  by  mutual  compression ;  peridium 
double,  the  outer  more  dense,  fragile,  thick,  calcareous,  the  inner 
delicate,   remote,   translucent;    capillitium    well   developed,  the 


K-« 


/'//VSARLWr 


31 


calcareous  nodules  rounded,  inclined  to  form  a  pseudo-coluniclla 
in  the  centre ;  spore-mass  black  ;  spores  purplish,  distinctly 
rough,  IO-I2  /i. 

A  very  beautiful  and  distinct  si)ecies.  It  is  a  P/iysanini  with 
the  outward  form  of  a  Didiriiid.  Not  common.  Specimens 
arc  before  us  from  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Iowa. 

5.     rilVSAKUM    CONTKXTUM    PirSOi'll, 

I'lAll.    I.\.,   Ii^,'s.    -,  nnd    V'. 

1796,  Ihi/t'/fita  coiitt'vtiim  I'crsoon,  O/ki,  J/iv.,  I.,  p.  Sg. 

iSoi.  /'/ly.uir/o/i  I  <>/i/t:\/it/j/  Vcvsoou,  .Syfi.  ,Uti/i.,  p.  16S. 

i,S2(;.  l)i(h-niui  coiiti'xt  11)11  I'ursoon,  Fries,  .SV.v/.  Myc,  III,  p.  m. 

1.S73.  Didenna  ochroleiUHin  15.  and  C,  LirnK.  II..  p.  52. 

Sporangia  distinct,  sessile,  densely  crowded,  sub-rotund  or 
rcniform ;  peridia  double ;  the  outer  rather  thick,  calcareous, 
yellow,  or  yellowish  white,  the  inner  thin,  yellowish;  capiilitium 
containing  numerous  irregular  calcaujous  granules;  columella 
none;  spores  deep  violet,  11    13  /*,  covered  with  mmute  s])inules. 

This  singular  species  occurs  not  rarely  uj)on  the  bark  of 
fallen  twigs,  upon  bits  of  straw  or  grass-stems  lying  undis- 
turbed upon  the  ground.  In  such  a  position  the  Slime-mould 
covers,  as  with  a  sheath,  the  entire  substratum.  The  outer 
pcridium,  er,)H"-''-div  its  upper  part,  is  entirely  evanescent;  our 
Fig.  3  shows  the  sporangia  with  upper  outer  peridium  want- 
ing.    Not  rare  in  summer  and  autumn. 

New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Wisconsin, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Colorado,  Nicaragua. 


6.    Phvsarum  conglomer.vtum  (Fr.)  Rost. 

1S03.  SpHiiiiiria  i^raimlafa  ^c\\\x\w\c\\cY,  Saell.,  II.,  p.  196,  No.  1419. 

1S03.  SpK/itaria  iiiini/td  .Schiim..  l-c. 

1829.  Didcrina  ifraniilatHiii  Scluim..  Fries,  .?.  i1/.,  III.,  p.  no. 

1(829.  Didernia  iiiiinitiDn  Scluim.,  Fries.  I.e.,  p.  III. 

1S29.  Didcrina  coiii:^/o!/terat!iin  Fries,  I.e.,  p.  iii. 

1875,  J'/iysanon  coiti^/onwratittn  (F"r.)  Rost.,  Moii.,  p.  108. 

1892.  Physarum  rostafinskii  Massee,  Mon.,  jj.  301. 

1894.  JViysarttm  conglomeratum  Rest.,  Lister,  Mycetozoa,  p.  58. 


i 


I 


"s 


?»'    '  I  (' 


1 

1  :;•  ^ 

1 

32 


Z///i   XORTII  AMERICAN  SUME-MOl'LDS 


Sporangia  deiircssed,  globose,  or  irregular,  sessile,  more  or 
less  aggregated,  ochraceous  yellow,  peridium  double,  the  outer, 
thick,  cartilaginous,  at  length  irregularly  ruptured  and  reflexed, 
disclosing  the  more  delicate,  ashen-gray,  inner  membrane  which 
encloses  capiliitium  and  spores ;  capillitium  abundant,  showing 
large,  white,  irregular  calcareous  thickenings  which  are  often 
consolidated  and  in  some  sporangia  tend  to  aggregate  at  the 
centre;  spore-mass  brown,  spores  violaceous,  slightly  rougnened, 
8-10  /A. 

This  beautiful  species  shows  a  peridium  as  distinctly  double 
as  in  any  Didcrma.  The  outer  peridium  is  reflexed  exactly  as 
ill  some  species  of  that  genus ;  is  yellow  without,  white  within, 
and  withal  long  persistent.  The  capillitium  of  course  distin- 
guishes the  species  instantly  from  any  Didcrma.  By  the  size  of 
the  spores  it  is  distinguished  from  the  species  preceding.  This 
being  a  decisive  specific  character,  the  synonomy  prior  to  Rosta- 
finski  is  somewhat  uncertain.  The  specific  name  adopted  by 
the  Polish  author  is  therefore  approved,  although  perhaps  not 
the  earliest. 

Rare.  The  only  specimens  thus  far  are  from  Tennessee  and 
Louisiana. 

7.    Phvsarum  brunneolum  {Phillips)  Mass. 

i^'JT-  Didervia  brunneoUiin  Phillips,  Grci'.,  V.,  p.  114. 

1 888.  Diderma  brunneolitin  Pliill.,  Saccardo,  Syll.  FittK^.,  No.  1292. 

1892.  Pia'saruni  bntnneoliim  I'hill.,  Massee,  Moii..  p.  280,  Figs.  221-222. 

1894.  CrateritDit  pediinculatuiii  •   Lister,  Myc.tozoa,  p.  71. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  but  not  crowded,  sessile, 
globose  or  sub-depressed  ;  peridium  single,  thick,  smooth  and 
polished,  yellow  brown,  stellately  dehiscent,  the  segments  re- 
flexed, white  within ;  columella  none ;  capillitium  dense,  with 
nodes  numerous,  large  irregular,  internoJes  thin  and  short ; 
spores  globose,  lilac,  minutely  warted,  (b-j  ix. 

This  form  was  first  described  in  GycvilU-a,  V.,  p.  114,  as  Di- 
dcruia  bniHncolinn  Phillips.  Later,  students  of  the  specimens 
preserved  by  Mr.  Phillips  concur  that  we  have  to  do  not  with  a 


tt. 


I 


i 


PHVSARUM 

Didcrma,  but  with  a  Crate riiun,  Lister,  or  P/ij'sariim,  Masscc. 
There  seems  no  reason  why  we  should  not  respect  the  decision 
of  iMassee,  whose  description  is  here  quoted  in  form  somewhat 
abridged. 

San  Francisco,  Cal. 

8.    PnvsAKUM  LATERiTiUM  {Bcrk.  and  Br.)  Rost. 

1873.  Didymiion  laten'tiian,  Berk,  and  Rav.,  Grev.,  II.,  p.  65. 

1875.  Physariim  ditinari  lateritinin  Rost.,  Mon.  App.,  p.  9. 

1879.  Fhysanim  inequalc  Peck,  Rep.  iV.  Y.  J/i(s.,XKXl.,  p.  40. 

1892.  Physaniin  chrysotrichiim  B.  and  C,  Massee,  ATon.,  p.  300. 

1894.  Physarmn  inequalc  Peck,  Lister.  Mycetozoa,  p.  60. 

1896.  Physariim  lateritiui,.  Berk,  and  Br.,  Morgan, /(WA-.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  95. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  sessile,  globose  or  sub-globose,  or  some- 
times plasmodiocarpous,  yellowish  or  orange,  everywhere  when 
fresh  spotted  with  minute  scarlet  granules ;  the  peridium  thin, 
more  or  less  rugulose  ;  columella  none  ;  capillitium  delicate,  gen- 
erally yellow,  with  nodules  conspicuous,  yellow  or  reddish ; 
spores  violet  brown  in  mass,  by  transmitted  light  pale  violet, 
minutely  roughened,  7-9  \x. 

A  well-marked  species  easily  recognized  by  the  characters 
cited.  The  extent  of  lime  deposit  at  the  capillitial  nodes  varies  ; 
sometimes  very  little.  This  accounts  for  Berkeley's  generic 
reference.  On  the  other  hand.  Lister  makes  the  rounded  lime 
knots  "  each  knot  with  a  red  centre  surrounded  by  yellow  round 
lime  granules  "  diagnostic.  This  pied  condition  does  not  come 
out  in  any  of  our  specimens.  The  capillitium  in  broken  speci- 
mens soon  fades,  tends  to  white,  etc. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  south. 


as  Di- 

icimens 

with  a 


9.    Phvsarum  virescens  Ditmar. 

Plate  VIII.,  Figs.  7,  7  « ;    Platk  IX.,  Figs.  5,  5  «,  5  b. 

1817.  Physariim  zirescev.^  Ditmar,  Sturm,  Deiitsch,  Flo.,  Pt'he,  i.,  p.  123, 
pi.  61. 

1875.     Physariim  ditmari  Rost.,  Mon.  App.,  p.  8. 

1892.  Physariim  ditmari  Rost.,  Macbride,  Pull.  Lab.  N'at.  Hist,  la..,  II., 
p.  155. 

D 


tmrnm 


I 


34 


TJ/E  NORTH  AMERICAiY  SLIME-MOULDS 


i    f 


I  I 

i  I 


■\\     I 


Sporangia  sessile,  crowded  or  heaped,  spherical,  ovoid  or 
elongate,  yellow  or  greenish  yellow ;  peridium  thin,  fragile ; 
capillitium  delicate,  with  rather  small,  irregular,  yellowish,  cal- 
careous nodes ;  columella  none ;  spores  bright  violet,  minutely 
roughened,  7-9  fx. 

This  beautiful  species  occurs  more  commonly  on  moss  tufts, 
with  which  it  is  frequently  concolorous,  or  escaped  upon  dead 
leaves,  etc.  The  peridium  is  flecked  with  calcareous  scales  or 
grains  stained  with  yellow  or  green,  and  to  these  the  whole  fruit 
owes  its  peculiar  color.  The  color  and  aggregated,  heaped 
sporangia  are  distinctive  macroscopic  characters. 

The  form  described,  Bu//.  Lad.  JVat.  Hist.  la.,  II.,  p.  158,  as 
P.  auriscalpiiini  Cke.,  is  by  Mr.  Lister  reckoned  a  variety  of  the 
present  species,  var.  nitcus.  It  differs  chiefly  in  its  larger 
size,  less  calcareous  peridium,  solitary  habit,  and  more  purely 
yellow  color.  The  peridium  is  very  thin,  and  tends  to  open  by 
a  longitudinal  fissure.  The  spores  are  similar  in  size  and  sur- 
face, but  the  capillitium  is  remarkably  different  in  the  two 
forms.     For  Physannn  atiriscalpinni  Cke.,  see  No.  16  below. 

In  the  J\Touograp/i,  p.  113,  Rostafinski  adopted  properly  Dit- 
mar's  name  for  this  species.  Upon  later  consideration,  in  the 
Appendix,  p.  8,  he  changed  the  name,  writing  P.  dituiari,  on 
the  ground  that  lircsccns  was  descriptive  of  a  character  to 
which  the  species  in  question  occasionally  refuses  to  conform. 
Most  authors  since  Rostafinski  have  simply  accepted  his  sug- 
gestion, so  that  in  recent  literature  the  species  is  generally 
entered  P.  ditmari  Rost.  P.  vircscois  is  certainly  to  be  pre- 
ferred.    N.  A.  P.,  2692. 

Canada,  New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
Iowa,  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

10.    Physarum  cixereum  {BatscJt)  Pers. 

ri.Ai'K  IX.,  Figs.  4,  ^a,  4/',  anl  4  r. 

1786.     Lycoperdon  cincreiim  Batsch,  Elench.  Fung.,  p.  249,  Fig.  169. 

1805.     FhysaruDi  cinereu/n  Persoon,  Synopsis,  p.  170. 

1829.     Didymiuin  cinereum  Batsch,  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  126. 


i( 


1 


■»- 


PHVSAKUM 

1 83 1.     Physarnm  ciucrcum  Schweinitz,  N.  A.  F.,  No.  2291. 
1875.     Physarnm  cinereuin  Batsch,  Post.,  Mon.,  p.  102.  Fig.  71. 


35 


riasmodium  watery  white,  or  transparent,  wide  streaming  on 
decaying  sod,  etc.  Sporangia  sessile,  closely  gregarious  or  even 
heaped,  sub-globose,  elongate  or  plasmodiocarpous,  more  or 
less  calcareous,  gray  ;  pcridium  simple,  thin,  more  or  less  densely 
coated  with  lime  ;  capillitium  strongly  developed,  the  nodes  more 
or  less  richly  calcareous,  the  lime  knots  rounded,  angular  ;  spore- 
mass  brown,  spores  violaceous  brown,  10-12  /u.,  distinctly  warted. 

This  delicate,  inconspicuous  species  is  well  defined  by  the 
characters  given.  It  occurs  not  rarely  on  richly  manured 
ground,  in  meadows,  lawns,  or  even  on  the  open  prairie.  The 
Plasmodium  may  form  rings  several  inches  in  diameter,  scat- 
tered here  and  there  over  a  surface  several  square  feet  in 
extent,  in  fruit  ascending  the  blades  of  grass,  completely  cov- 
ering these  with  the  crowded  sporangia.  The  color  of  the  fruit 
is  well  described  in  the  specific  name,  clnctrnin,  ashen  gray. 
The  spores  are  very  delicately  papillate,  in  some  specimens, 
however,  almost  smooth. 

Common.  New  England  west  to  the  Black  Hills  and  Pacific 
coast. 


I 


sug- 


II.    Phvsarum  plumbeum  Fries. 

1829.     Physaniin  plitnibeum  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  142. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  occasionally  clustered,  globose,  or  de- 
pressed globose,  sessile  ;  dull  plumbeous  or  grayish  brown  ;  the 
peridium  thin,  with  few  minute  cakareous  scales  or  none ; 
columella  none  ;  capillitium  lax,  the  nodules  rather  large, 
white,  irregularly  branched ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  smooth, 
violaceous,  7-8  fi. 

This  species  has  been  rehabilitated  by  Mr.  A.  P.  Morgan, 
following  the  slender  references  of  P'ries,  I.e.  The  species  is 
supposed  by  the  authors  named  to  be  that  figured  by  Micheli, 
PI.  96,  Fig.  9.  In  outv/ard  form  this  species  is  not  unlike  No. 
13,  below  ;  but  the  spores  of  the  two  species  are  very  different. 

Apparently  not  common.    Our  only  specimens  arc  from  Ohio. 


I 


li 


-7W 


^ 


\ 


'iV\ 


I II 


l!i 


\\ 


Ih;! 


'    ;i 


i\  I 


i    1' 


!  ■!(  1 


f 


36  THE  NORTH  AMERICAiV  SLIME-MOULDS 

12,  Physakum  thejoteum  Fries. 

1829.     Pliysaruin  tlicjoteitni  Fries,  .S/j/.  J/yr.,  III.,  p.  142. 

Sporangia  very  small,  closely  crowded  on  a  delicate,  more  or 
less  visible  hypothallus,  often  connate,  but  not  superimposed, 
sub-spherical,  dull  orange  yellow  or  tawny  ;  peridium  thin,  vio- 
laceous, covered  with  very  minute  yellow  calcareous  scales ; 
columella  none ;  capillitium  lax,  sometimes  almost  wanting,  the 
nodules  small,  yellowish  or  brownish,  occasionally  confluent ; 
spore-mass  violaceous,  spores  by  transmitted  light,  violet  tinted, 
smooth  or  nearly  so,  6-7  yu. 

Not  uncommon  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  where  it  sometimes 
is  passed  by  the  collector  as  an  immature  form  of  some  other 
species.  The  appearance  is  very  characteristic,  unlike  P.  vircs- 
ccns  in  both  habit,  size,  and  color.  Colonies  are  quite  often 
three  inches  in  length.  The  most  common  habitat  seems  to  be 
rotten  oak,  especially  fragments  of  charred  logs,  etc. 

Ohio,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Iowa,  Nebraska. 

13.  Physarum  atrum  ScJiiveinitz. 

Plate  XV.,  P^igs.  i,  i  <.-,  i  b. 

1831.     Physaruvi  atrmn  Scliw.,  A^.  A.  F.,  No.  2299. 
Pliysaruin  cinereum  Ellis. 

Sporangia  small,  gregarious,  confluent  and  clustered  or 
heaped,  dull  violaceous  brown ;  the  wall  thin,  more  or  less 
transparent,  sprinkled  with  minute  white  angular  flecks  of  lime; 
capillitium  scanty,  the  calcareous  nodes  small  and  rounded- 
elongate,  white ;  columella  none ;  spores  violet  brown,  distinctly 
warted,  10-12  fi. 

Distinguished  from  everything  else  by  its  color  and  the  small 
size  of  the  heaped  sporangia.  It  is  near  PJiysarnm  plunibcuni, 
but  of  different  habit  and  with  larger  spores.  It  also  resembles 
some  forms  of  P.  cinanun,  from  which  it  is  distinguished  by  its 
more  pronounced  habit  of  aggregation  and  its  general  lack  of 
lime,  as  well  as  by  the  general  color  and  appearance  of  the  spores. 

Pennsylvania,  North  Carolina,  Maryland. 


I 


PIIYSARUM 


37 


This  has  been  distributed  in  the  United  States  as  P.  confcr- 
tum  Macbr.,  but  comparison  with  material  in  the  Schvveinitzian 
herbarium  at  Philadelphia  leaves  no  doubt  as  to  the  projier 
specific  name.  The  calcareous  covering  in  the  si)eciniens  re- 
ferred to  is  wanting,  and  there  arc  no  reticulate  forms  such  as 
Schwcinitz  would  have  us  see  according  to  his  description. 
See,  however,  Morgan, /c'/zr.  Cin.  Soc,  1896,  p.  99. 

14.  Phvsarum  newtoni  Macbi-idc. 

Tlatk  XIV.,  I'-i^'s.  5,  5  a,  5  b. 
1S93.    Physaniiii  nc-iVtoni  Macbr.,  Bull.  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.  Iowa,  II.,  p.  390. 

Sporangia  simple,  gregarious,  short  stipitate  or  sessile,  glo- 
bose or  flattened,  when  not  globose  depressed  and  deeply  um- 
bilicate  above,  purple,  smooth,  thin-walled,  stipe  when  present 
very  short  and  concolorous  ;  columella  none  ;  hypothallus  none  ; 
capillitium  abundant,  delicate,  with  more  or  less  well  developed 
nodules,  which  are  also  concolorous ;  spores  by  transmitted 
light,  dark  brown,  thick  walled,  rough,  nucleated,  about  10  /x. 

A  very  handsome  little  species  collected  by  Professor  G.  W. 
Newton  in  Colorado,  at  an  altitude  of  several  thousand  feet. 
Ea.sily  recognized  by  its  almost  sessile,  rose  purple,  generally 
umbilicate  sporangium. 

15.  Phvsarum  c/espitosum  ScJnvcinitr:. 

1831.  PJtysannn  cccspitositiii  Schweinitz,  yV.  A.  F.,  25S. 

1S69.  Diilcrma  citrinuin  Peck.  Rep.  A".  Y.  Mns..  XXII.,  p.  89. 

1879.  Pliysanttn  citrindliiiii  Peck.  Rep.  A'.  Y.  Miis.,  XXXI.,  p.  55. 

1894.  CratcriiDii  citri)iclluin  Lister.  Mycctor:oa,  p.  74. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  or  scattered  globose,  short-stipitatc, 
pale  yellow  or  ochraceous,  smooth  or  slightly  roughened  b\'  the 
presence  of  minute  lime  particles  ;  peridium  more  or  less  dis- 
tinctly double,  the  outer  calcareous,  fragile,  the  inner  ver)-  deli- 
cate, with  here  and  there  a  calcareous  thickening,  ruptu'vd 
irregularly  ;  stipe  very  short,  half  the  sporangium,  fuliginous, 
furrowed,  expanded  below  into  an  imjierfectly  defined  nvpo- 
thallus  ;  capillitium  abundant,  the  nodes  stellate-angular,  brge, 


»■ 


m 


f 


1) 


Fi 


T 


38 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


•!  r^ 


;    1' 


the  intcrnodes  delicate,  short ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  viola- 
ceous brown  by  transmitted  lij^ht,  strongly  spinulose,  10-12. 5  /u,. 

Rare  on  mosses  and  rottin*,^  leaves. 

The  original  description  is  as  follows  :  "/'.  cccspitosuvi  L.  v.  S., 
pulcherrimum.  In  foliis  ct  stipitibus  Rhododendri,  Bethlehem. 
Physarum  substipitatum  aut  saltern  basi  attenuata,  c?cspitosim 
crcscens  et  sparsim.  Crcspitulis  3  linearibus  ;  peridiis  sHpatis, 
turbinatis,  ovatis,  basi  contracta  membranula  exterori  luteo- 
squamulosa  aut  punctato-squarrulosa.  Sporidiis  nigro-brunneis, 
floccis  citrinis  inspersis."     Synopsis  N.  A.  Fmigi,  No.  2301. 

In  the  l\ocnty-sccond  N.  Y.  Report,  Dr.  Peck  incorrectly,  as 
we  think,  referred  this  species  to  PJiysaruni  citruiiim  Schum. 
On  the  appearance  of  Rostafinski's  MonogmpJi,  Ur.  Peck 
{Thii'ty-Jirst  Annual  Report  N.  V.,  p.  55)  gives  a  revised  list  of 
the  New  York  species  of  Slime-moulds,  and  for  what  he  had 
before  entered  as  P.  citrinuni  Schum  ,  writes  P.  citrinclbnn 
Peck,  without  other  citation  or  description.  Under  the  last 
name  the  species  has  been  generally  recognized  in  the  United 
States  and  distributed.     N.  A.  P.,  2490. 

A  very  distinct  and  handsome  species.  Easily  recognizable 
at  sight  by  its  large,  globose,  almost  sessile  and  yet  distinctly 
stalked  sporangia.  The  color  to  the  naked  eye  is  pale  ochra- 
ceous  or  buff.  Only  under  a  moderate  magnification  do  the 
citrine  tints  come  out. 

Maine,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Missouri,  Iowa. 


;    I  - 


;ii 


16.    Physarum  auriscalpium  Cooke. 

Platk  XIV.,  Figs.  3,  3<7,  T,l>;  Plate  III.,  Figs.  7,  7  a. 

1877.  riiysariDii  auriscalpiinii  Cooke,  Myx.  U.  S..  p.  384. 

1879.  rhysaruin  ornatinn  I'eck,  Rep.  N.  Y.  Mus.,  XXXI.,  p.  40. 

1893.  Physarum  oldathin  Macbr.,  Bull.  Lab.  N'at.  Hist.  lozva,  II.,  p.  384. 

1893.  Pliysaruin  sutp/iurcuiii  Alb.  and  Schw.,  Sturgis,  Boi.  Gas.,X\\\l., 
p.  197. 

1898.  Physarum  aiiriscalpiuiii  Cke.,  Lister,  Jour,  Bot.,  XXXVI.,  p.  115. 

Sporangia    gregarious,    stipitate,    small,    bright    yellow,   de- 
pressed globose,  rough ;  stipe  reddish  brown  or  fuliginous,  even, 


f 


rH\  SARUM 


39 


slender ;  hypothallus  scant,  black,  or  none ;  columella  none ; 
threads  of  the  capill'tium  yellow,  delicate,  connecting  the  rather 
dense  and  abundant  lime  granules  ;  spore-mass  brownish  black, 
spores  violaceous,  minutely  but  distinctly  spinulose,  9-1 1  /it. 

This  species  is  easily  recognizable  by  its  brilliant  yellow  color, 
somewhat  rugose,  sometimes  scaly,  peridium,  its  richly  calca- 
reous capillitium,  also  bright  yellow  where  not  weathered  or 
faded,  its  dark  brown,  translucent,  non-calcareous  stem. 

It  occurs  in  Iowa  on  the  bark  of  fallen  Populus. 

We  have  followed  here  the  synonymy  of  Lister,  who  has 
compared  American  specimens  with  the  type  of  Cooke's  species. 
We  except  Ohio  specimens,  called  by  Morgan  Cratcriiim  niaydis, 
characterized  by  longer  stems  and  less  calcareous  peridium, 
the  lime  in  the  form  of  scattered  scales.  This  species  will  be 
found  listed  in  its  appropriate  place. 

Massachusetts,  New  York,  Ohio,  Carolinas,  Iowa. 

17.       PhVSARUM    VARIABILE    RcX. 

1893.     Physaruin  variabilc  Rax., /'roc.  Phil.  Acad..,  p.  371. 

Sporangia  scattered,  stipitatc,  sub-stipitate  or  sessile  about 
I  mm.  high;  regularly  or  inegularly  globose,  ellipsoidal, 
obovate  or  cylindric-clavate  in  shape ;  sporangium  wall  some- 
times apparently  thick,  of  a  dingy  yellow  or  brownish  ochre 
color,  slightly  regulose  on  the  surface,  crustaceous,  brittle,  rup- 
turing irregularly,  sometimes  thin,  translucent,  covered  externally 
with  fiai  circular  lime-masse  i  falling  away  in  patches ;  stipes 
nearly  equal,  occaf'onally  mich  expanded  at  the  base,  rough 
longitudinally  rugose,  variable  in  size,  sometimes  one-third  of  a 
milimetre  high,  sometimes  a  mere  plasmodic  thickening  of  the 
base  of  the  sporangium  ;  color  of  stipes  varying  from  a  \'ellowish 
white  to  a  dull  brownish  gray ;  capillitium  a  small-meshed  net- 
work of  delicate  colorless  tubules  with  large,  many-angled, 
rounded  masses  of  white,  or  rarely  yellowish  white  lime  gran- 
ules at  the  nodes;  no  true  columella,  but  often  a  central  irreg- 
ular mass  of  white  lime  granules ;  spores  dark  violet  brown, 
verruculose,  9-10  /i. 


\n 


40 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN"  SIJME-MOULDS 


\  . ,' 


i  .J 


r^ 


^1 


■i  i 


H 


This  species  is  nearly  related  to  /-*.  citrinclliivi  by  the  nature 
of  the  peridium,  but  differs  in  the  size  of  the  sporangia,  the 
habit  of  fruiting,  size,  color,  and  marking  of  the  spores.  It  is 
also  related  to  P,  incllciim,  from  which  it  differs  in  having  no 
columella,  and  most  nearly  to  P.  anriscalpiiDH,  from  which  it 
may  be  distinguished  by  the  much  closer  capillitium  with  paler 
nodules,  as  well  as  by  much  stouter  habit,  and  the  peculiar 
metallic  or  bronze  yellow  of  the  peridial  wall. 

New  York,  Iowa. 

1 8.  Phvsarum  didermoides  {AcJuirins)  Rost. 

ri-AIE    IX.,    P'igS.    I,    I  rt,    I  ^,    I  C. 

i8oi.  Spumaria(?)  didcniwides  Acharius,  Persoon,  Syti.  Ftnis^.,  p.  xxix. 

1829.  Didenna  oblom^n/n  fries,  Syst.  Myc...  III.,  p.  103. 

1 83 1.  Spnmaria  lichcniforviis  Scliweinitz,  N.  A.  F.,  p.  261,  No.  2364. 

1875.  P/iysanim  lividion,  var.  lichenifonne  Schw.,  Rostafinski,  Mon.^ 
p.  96. 

1875.  Physarum  didermoides  Acharius,  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  97. 

Plasmodium  pale  watery  white  or  giay ;  sporangia  crowded, 
ovoid  or  cylindric,  stipitate  or  sessile,  blue  gray,  often  capped 
with  white ;  stipe  variable  in  length  and  structure,  where  well 
developed  pure  white,  often  flattened,  expanded  and  diapha- 
nous, connate  with  others  through  the  irregular  reticulate  or 
sheet-like  hypothallus ;  columella  none ;  capillitium  ample,  the 
lime  knots  angular  or  rounded,  white  connected  by  hyaline 
threads ;  spores  in  mass  black,  by  transmitted  light  dark  violet, 
decidedly  spinulose,  12-15  ft. 

A  very  variable  species  in  many  particulars.  The  sporangia 
in  the  same  cluster  are  stipitate  and  sessile,  ovoid  and  spheri- 
cal. Our  description  does  not  quite  agree  with  that  of  Rosta- 
finski. As  may  be  seen  from  the  plate,  it  is  the  oiifcr  peridium 
that  is  with  us  white  and  burdened  with  lime,  the  inner  is  sim- 
ple and  comparatively  thin.  The  snowy  outer  peridium  is,  how- 
ever, easily  displaced.  The  colony  may  not  show  it  at  all,  in 
which  case  the  peridia  remaining  give  to  the  fructification  entire 
a  pale  lead  color,  very  characteristic.     The  disposition  of  the 


x: 


II. 


ca 
us 
ca 

Uf 


■  — «!». 


i 


PHYSARUM 


41 


lime  in  the  capillitium  is  also  notably  variabis.  Sjiccimcns 
occur  which  in  so  far  realize  Rostafinski's  Crate riachca ;  that  is, 
the  lime  is  nuissed  as  a  snow-white  i)seudo-coluniella  in  the 
centre  of  each  sporan<;ium.  In  such  cases  the  lime  of  the  outer 
peridium  is  scant  or  limited  in  amount,  never  forming  the  cal- 
careous caji  shown  in  Fi<^.  i.  The  size  of  the  spores  is  also 
variable.  Rostafinski  gives  12. 5-14.2;  not  infrequently  a  sinj,de 
spore  reaches  16  /u,! 

The  species  is  not  common  in  Iowa,  but  can  be  obta.ined  in 
quantity  where  oni,"?  it  appears,  as  the  plasmodia  are  profuse. 

Ohio,  Carolinrts,  Tennessee,  Iowa,  South  Dakota,  Kansas. 
Especially  to  be  looked  for  on  the  bark  of  fallen  stems  of  Popu- 
Ills  and  Ncgiindo. 


»  1 


I 

4 


I 


ig.    PiivsAKUM  NEFRoiDEUM  RostafiHski. 

Plate  IX.,  Figs.  2,  2(7,  2b;  Plate  XV.,  Fig.  2. 

The  history  of  this  species  seems  to  be  as  follows :  — 

1805.  PJiysaritm  coinpressiim  Alb.  and  Scliw.,  Fung.  Liis.,  p.  97.   (?) 

1809.  Pliysannn  griseuiii  Link,  Diss.,  I.,  p.  27. 

1829.  Physanim  ceniuum  (Sebum.)  (in  part).  Fries,  Syst.  Afyc,  p.  130. 

1873.  Didyiiiium  connaiuin  Peek,  Rep  N.  Y.  Mus.,  XXVI.,  p.  74. 

1875.  Physantm  iiefroiiieu//i  Rost.,  Moii.,  p.  93. 

1875.  Pliysanon  affine  Rost.,  Man.,  p.  94;  ^Ipp.,  p.  5 

1875.  Physaruin  Ihndiiin  Rost.,  Mon..  p.  95. 

1876.  Didyiniuin  glaitcitin  Pbillips,  iirev.s  V.,  p.  114. 

1879.  Pliysannn  polyinorphitm  (Mont.)  Rost.,  Peek,  Rep.  N",  V.  Jlfus., 
XXXI.,  p.  55'. 

1882.     Physanim  pliillipsii  Balfour  Fil.,  Grcv..  X..  p.  116. 

1S92.     J'/iysanii/i glaiicii/i!  (Pbill.).  Massee.  Man.,  p.  284. 

1S92.     Pliysannn  iiefroidciisn  Rost.,  Massee.  Mon.,  p.  285. 

1893.  Pliysannn  Iciicophauin  Y\'v  ,  Macbride.  Ptiill.  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.  Iowa, 
II.,  p.  156. 

iSg6.     Pliysannn  conncxinn  Link.,  ^^oru;.-;.!./!;;///'  Cin.  Soc,  p.  92. 

1896.     Pliysannn  conjlttcns  Pers .  Morgan,  I.e.,  p.  94. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  sessile,  stipitate,  or  even  plasmodio- 
carpous ;  when  stipitate,  globose,  depressed,  or  anon  reniform, 
usually  concave  or  umbilicate  below,  the  peridium  strongly 
calcareous,  cinereous-white ;  stipe  variable,  generally  taj:)ering 
upward,   always  distinctly  deeply  plicate-furrowed,  varying  in 


V 


iMr 


1.  " 

k 

I  ■; 


!!'  <■ 


'11 


. 


42 


TNE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


color  from  nearly  pure  white,  through  different  shades  of  gray 
to  brown  fuliginous  or  black  ;  hypothallus  none  or  obscure  ; 
columella  none  ;  capillitium  abundant,  the  white  lime  knots  vary- 
ing in  size  and  shape,  connected  by  rather  long  hyaline  threads, 
with  here  and  there  an  empty  node  ;  spore-mass  black,  by  trans- 
mitted light,  dark,  sooty  brown,  minutely  papillose,  10-11.5  \i. 

This  remarkable  species,  while  not  at  all  difficult  of  recog- 
nition to  one  familiar  with  its  phases,  is  withal  very  difficult  to 
define.  Normally  stipitate,  it  often  shows  from  the  same  Plas- 
modium all  sorts  of  forms,  the  shape  of  the  fructification  de- 
pendent apparently  upon  external  conditions  prevalent  at  the 
time.  The  amount  of  lime  also  varies,  especially  in  the  capilli- 
tium, where  there  is  always  a  tendency  to  the  formation  of 
something  like  a  pseudo-columella.  The  outer  capillitium  is 
sometimes  nearly  destitute  of  lime.  The  lime  in  the  stipe  also 
varies ;  the  black  or  brown  stipes  are  of  course  free  from  lime, 
the  white  ones  calcareous.  Among  the  white-stemmed  phases 
occurs  a  form  in  which  a  globular  sporangium  is  borne  upon  a 
tall,  slender  stipe,  twice  the  width  of  the  sporangium  or  greater. 
This  type  is  PJiysarnni  affinc  Rost.  According  to  Rostafinski 
typical  forms  of  P.  ncfroidciim  have  the  stalk  black,  while 
/'.  affinc  has  the  stem  white  or  gray,  but  surely  the  species  can- 
not be  distinguished  on  this  basis,  for  the  same  plasmodium 
yields  stipes  of  all  shades. 

The  synonymy  of  the  species  is  perplexing.  The  original 
description  of  P.  comprcssiini  by  Alb.  and  Schw.  is  far  from 
sufficient.  Link  called  (Rostafinski  teste)  the  same  thing  P. 
griscnni  Link  and  P.  coniprcssuni  Alb.  and  Schw.,  besides 
including  forms  which  are  in  no  way  related.  TricJiia  ccrmia 
Schumacher,  which  Fries  makes  a  Physaruni,  is  certainly 
TilmadocJic  nutans,  Didymiinn  connatuni  Peck  is  the  form 
before  us,  but  the  combination  P.  connatuni  is  already  a 
synonym.  For  these  reasons  Rostafinski's  name  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred. P.  conncxum  Link,  as  revised  and  presented  by  Morgan, 
is  certainly  our  present  species.  P.  conjluens  Pers.,  by  the  tes- 
timony of  the  European  writers,  is  a  Didymiuni.     It  is  difficult 


I 


niVSARL/M 


43 


to  make  out  what  species  F'ries  describes  as  P.  coujlucns  Pers. 
Rostafinski  says  D.  cjfitsiiui  (Link)  Rost. 

In  /''////.  I.nl>.  iA'cA  J  fist.  loi^hr,  II.,  ji.  156,  this  species  was 
described  as  J\  IcHcoplucinn  Fr.,  with  which  it  is  indeed  closely 
related  by  the  wrinkled  stipe,  varying;  habit,  etc.,  but  it  differs 
in  the  color  of  the  spores  and  the  shape  and  surface  char- 
acters of  the  peridium,  as  well  as  in  the  much  more  strongly 
calcareous  capillitial  nodes.  Sec  No.  21.  N.A.F.,  2693,  is  P. 
Icucopluemn  Fr. ;  2694,  a  form  of  the  present  sjiecies.  Sjieci- 
mens  collected  by  the  writer  in  California,  \\hich  seem  to  rep- 
resent /'.  glaucuni  Phillips,  are  certainly  referable  here ;  also 
Didymium  connatnm  Peck,  of  which  authentic  specimens  are  in 
the  herbarium  of  Iowa  University. 

This  species  seems  to  abound  everywhere  in  the  Mississippi 
valley,  and  probably,  as  remarked  above,  ranges  to  the  Pacific 
Coast,     In  the  eastern  states  less  common. 

New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Illinois, 
Michigan,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  California,  Black  Hills,  South 
Dakota. 


from 


20.    Physarum  nicaraguense  Macbridc. 

Tlatk  XV'.,  Figs.  7,  7  a,  7  b. 
1893.    Physarum  nicaraguense  Macbr.,  Bull.  Lab.  IV.  H.  lozua,  II.,  p.  383. 

Sporangia  multilobate  or  compound  contorted,  below  obconic, 
gray,  ribbed  with  calcareous  thickenings ;  stem  short,  fuscous, 
longitudinally  wrinkled  ;  hypothallus  distinct,  black  ;  columella 
none,  although  the  lime  massed  at  the  centre  of  each  sporan- 
gium simulates  one ;  capillitium  white,  densely  calcareous,  with 
heavy  angular  nodules  connected  with  comparatively  short 
threads;  spores  violet,  globose,  spinulose,  about  12/x  in  diameter. 

This  species  resembles  the  preceding  in  some  particulars, 
especially  in  the  large  amount  of  lime  present  in  both  cajiil- 
litium  and  peridium,  in  the  fluted,  sooty  stipe,  and  the  rough 
spores.  Mr.  Lister  regards  it  as  the  same.  Nevertheless,  it 
differs  from  P.  nefroidcum  in  many  definite  particulars.     In  the 


44 


THE  NOHUl  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 


tirst.  place,  the  sporangia  arc  different  in  form  and  ha1)it.  They 
arc  nearly  always  compound,  convolute,  or  botryoid,  in  this 
respect  resembling  T.  (^olyccphala.  liesides,  the  sj)orangia  are 
uniformly  much  smallef,  and  show  uniformly  the  strongly  cal- 
cilied  centre,  much  transcending  anything  seen  in  /'.  m/nnilcum. 
The  stipe  also  is  peculiar,  an  upward  extension  or  sweep  of  the 
common  hypothallus  which  is  usually  very  distinct  or  promi- 
nent; and,  while  the  stipe  is  longitudinally  wrinkled,  it  is  much 
less  so  than  in  the  related  species,  and  in  a  different  way.  The 
spores  are  about  the  same  in  size,  but  differ  in  color,  in  this 
respect  agreeing  rather  with  P.  Iciicophicuui, 

Ometepe,  Nicaragua.     Collected  by  Mr.  B.  Shimck,  1892. 


;        i 


;  li 


21.    Phvsakum  LEUCOPHyEUM  Frics. 

1S18.     J'/iysiin(»i  Icucopluntm  Fries,  Syinb.  Cast.,  p.  24. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  stipitate ;  the  peridium 
globose  or  sub-depressed,  plane,  convex,  but  never  umbilicate 
below,  erect,  bluish  ashen ;  the  stipe  short,  rugose,  sub-sulcate, 
white,  attenuate  upward  from  a  thickened  base  or  sometimes 
from  an  indistinct  hypothallus  ;  capillitium  dense,  the  angles 
flat-expanded,  but  with  comparatively  little  lime,  the  intcrnodes 
often  long,  always  thin  and  delicate ;  columella  none ;  spore-mass 
black,  spores  violaceous,  minutely  roughened,  about  8-10  /a. 

This  extremely  delicate  and  beautiful  form  is  certainly  not 
to  be  referred  to  No.  19.  Fries,  who  seems  to  have  known 
of  /-'.  co})iprcssiim  Alb.  and  Schw.,  and  refers  it  to  T.  nutans 
Rost.  (.see  Svst.  Myc,  p.  130),  annotates,  as  follow.s,  the  present 
species :  "  Species  especially  remarkable  in  the  stipe,  in  the 
internal  structure,  and  in  its  whole  habit,  nor  is  there  any  other 
species  with  which  it  may  be  compared.  .  .  .  Peridium  thin, 
not  uniform,  presently  breaking  up  into  laciniate  scales;  at 
first  yellow,  then  bluish  ashen  ;  when  empty,  white.  The  form 
inconstant,  globose,  depressed,  but  never  umbilicate  at  base." 
If  we  may  judge  by  what  Fries  says  on  the  subject,  he  certainly 
distinguished  clearly  between  this  species  and   T.   nutans,  to 


\ 


/'J/yS.lA'L\\/ 


45 


say  nothing  of  the  stouter,  larger,  in  every  way  coarser  form, 
called  by  Rostafinski  /*.  iiifividiinn.  For  points  of  difference 
between  this  species  and  Tibnadochc  ^Pliysantin)  in(tans,  sec 
under  that  species. 

We  are  inclined  to  think  the  species  less  common  in  this  coun- 
try. It  certainly  has  not  yet  been  noted  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  specimens  under  this  name  from  various  correspondents 
often  turn  out  to  be  /'.  lu/roidiiiui.  Rostatinski's  synonymy 
here  cannot  be  confirmed.  S/>/hcVvcar/>//s  (i/bns  liuU.  is,  in  all 
its  varieties,  probably  Tilniadochc  uiititiis,  and  Link's  descrip- 
tions, /'.  coiiJluiHs  etc.,  are  entirely  inadequate. 

Rare.     Maine,  Pennsylvania. 

22.    Phvsaru.m  tkopicale  Macbr.  n.  s. 

I'l.AiK  XV.,  !■  i}^s.  4,  4  (/,  4  b. 

Sporangia  scattered,  gregarious,  turbinate,  short  stipitate, 
blue  gray,  about  i  mm.  in  diameter ;  peridium  above  iridescent 
green,  blue,  etc.,  dotted  with  minute  flecks  of  white  lime,  below 
lime-less,  purple  or  bronze  shading  to  the  brown  of  the  stijie  ; 
stipe  short,  stout,  slightly  rugose,  cylindric,  non-calcareous, 
brown ;  columella  none  ;  hypothallus  none  ;  capillitium  abun- 
dant, white,  the  nodes  generally  calcareous,  small,  uniform, 
angular,  white,  uniformly  distributed;  spore-mass,  black  ;  spores 
dark  violet  brown,  distinctly  and  closely  warted,  12-15  /u,. 

A  large,  handsome  species,  recognizable  by  the  peculiar 
turbinate  sporangium,  with  its  iridescent  peridial  wall  in  which 
green  strongly  predominates  above,  bronze  below.  The  distinc- 
tion between  the  upper  and  lower  peridium  would  suggest 
CratcriiuHy  but  the  internal  structure  is  not  at  all  Cnitcriinii-Wkc. 
The  caj)illitium  is  typically  of  Pliysarnui.  The  color  suggests 
P.  IciicopJunini  violascciis  Rost.  From  this  it  is  distinguished 
by  its  much  larger  sporangia,  larger  and  rougher  spores. 

Mexico  ;  C.  L.  Smith. 


M 


23.    Physarum  globuliferum  (Bull.)  Pcrs. 

1791.     SphccrocarpHs  glob itlif ems  Bulliard,  Champ..,  PI.  4S4,  Fig.  3. 


46 


THE  NORTH  AMLRICAiV  SLIME-MOULDS 


1801.  Physa7-itm  i^lobuliferitm  Pers.,  Syn.,  p.  175,  T.  III.,  Figs.  10,  11,  12. 

1829.  Diderwa  i^lobiilifcruiii  Fries,  Sysi,  Myc,  III.,  p.  100. 

18/6.  Physanim  pdcrsii farhnoii  Rost.,  Mon.^  App.,  p.  6. 

1879.  I'hysarum  albicans  VnzVJiep.  lY.  V.  Mas.,  XXX..  p.  50. 

1893.  rhysariiiii  coluiiibimim  iMacbr.,  Bull.  Lab.  iVat.  Hist,  /mva,  II.,  384. 


■!l 


Sporangia  gregarious,  stipitatc,  globose,  or  slightly  depressed, 
above,  pah^  blue  gray  or  pure  white ;  stij^e  sometimes  equal  to 
the  sporangium,  generally  longer,  slender,  sliglitly  wrinkled, 
white  or  yellow,  ^.allid,  when  longer  tapering  upward;  colu- 
mella white,  conical,  sometimes  obsolete;  hypothallus  none; 
capillitium  dense,  but  delicate,  persistent,  a  close  network  of 
hyaline  threads,  with  white  or  yellowish  nodes  sparingly 
thickened  and  calcareous,  many  without  lime ;  spore-mass 
brown;   spores,   by  transmitted    light,  violet,  minutely  wartcd, 

7-5-9  Z^- 

This    species,    very    common    eastward,    rare    west    of    the 

Mississippi,  is  at  once  very  beautiful  and  very  variable.      Its 

several    phases    have    been    again    and    again    observed    and 

described  too  often  by  distinct  specific  or  varietal  names.     A 

form  from  New  York,  with  long,  white  stems  and  almost  pure 

white  sporangia,  is   P.   albicans    Peck.     From    New  England, 

specimens    sent   to    Rostafinski   were   by    him    regarded    as   a 

variety  of  P.  pctcrsii  B.  and  C,  and  called.  I.e.,  P.  pctcrsii  var. 

farloivii  Rost.     By  this  name  the  species  has  been  generally 

distributed  in  this  country.     N.  A.  F.,  11 20.     Most  gatherings 

of  this  form  have  sinall,  somewhat  ochraceous,  sporangia,  and 

pale    yellow    or   somewhat    rusty   stipes.      These    latter,    with 

somewhat  heavier  stem,  represent  Physarnni  simile  Rost.     A 

form  collected  sparingly  in  Iowa  has  short,  white  stipes  and 

blue  gray  sporangia  one-third  larger  than  observed  in  the  eastern 

types.     This  was  recorded.  I.e.,  as  P.  coliimbinuni  Macbr.     The 

spores  in  the  Iowa  specimens  are  also  a  little  larger,  8-10 /u.. 

In  all    phases  the  persistent   tenacity  of   the  capillitium  is 

a  striking   characteristic    well   noticed   by  Fries  {I.e.,  p.    loi): 

"  Peridia  a  gleba  omnino  libera,  dein  tota  diffracta,  evanescentia, 

.  .  .  capillitio  compacto  forma  servata  persistente."     The  perid- 


PHYSARUM 


47 


m  IS 
oi): 
;ntia, 
)crid- 


ium,   except   a   small   part   below,  all  falls  away,  leaving   the 
capillitium  apparently  intact,  crowded  with  spores. 

p^rom  New  England  to  iowa;  Canada,  south  to  Louisiana 
and  Mexico. 

24.  PliVSARUM    MACULATUM  Miicbv. 

Pi.ATK  XIV.,  Figs.  6,  da,  6b. 
1893.     Bull.  Lab.  N'at.  Hist.  Iowa,  II.,  p.  383. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  very  small,  dull  gray, 
thin-walled,  dotted  with  minute  calcareous  granules,  stipitate ; 
'stipe  long,  stout,  attenuated  upward,  striate  longitudinally  or 
wrinkled,  filled  with  irregular  yellow  masses  of  lime  and  accord- 
ingly bright  yellow  in  color;  columella  none;  capillitium  forming 
a  dense  net,  with  comparatively  small  yellow  nodular  thicken- 
ings ;  spores  globose,  purplish,  each  minutely  papillose  and 
displaying  several  scattered  spots  occasioned  by  local  develop- 
ment of  papilloe  ;  diameter  of  the  spores  9-10 /w. 

This  species  .vas  set  up  for  the  reception  of  certain  material 
collected  by  Professor  Shimek,  in  1892,  in  Nicaragua.  It  remains 
so  far  unique.  The  small  globose  sporang  m  mounted  uj^on 
a  long  upwardly  tapering  stipe,  which  is  simply  a  sack  stuffed 
with  yellow  lime  granules,  and  the  yellow  capillitium  arc 
distinguishing  features.  The  capillitium  and  spores  suggest 
Tihnadoclic  viridc,  but  the  entire  habit  precludes  such  reference. 
Perhaps  nearest  to  P.  incllcitm. 

Castillo,  Nicaragua. 

25.  Phvsarum  mellel'm  iBirk.  and  Br.)  Mass. 

1873.  Dyih'iiiiuin  uicUctim  Berk,  and  Ijr..  Jour.  Liitii.  Soc,  XIV..  p.  83. 

1S73.  Didyiiiiuin  chrysopepluin  ViifV.  and  C^jrt.,  Grev.,  II..  p.  53. 

1876.  PJtysaruin  sclunnachcri  Spr.  var.  tnelUitm  Rost.,  Moii...  App.,  p.  7. 

1892.  Physaruiii  DieUcuin  .Massce,  Mou  .  p.  278. 

1896.  Cytidiuin  iucllcu»i  (Ik'i!<.  and   Ilr.),  Morgan,  Jtntr.  Chi.  Soc,  p.  83. 

Sporangia  scattered,  stipitate,  globose,  flattened  below,  clear 
yellow  or  honey  colored  ;  stipe  short,  about  equalling  the  spo- 
rangium, pure  white,  somewhat  wrinkled ;  columella  small  but 


I     'i 


48 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN   SLIME-MOULDS 


■■I, 


■  \i\ 


I  i.  \    1! 


distinct,  white ;  hypothalliis  none ;  capillitium  abundant,  open, 
snow  white,  with  rather  large  angularly  stellate  nodes ;  spore- 
mass  brown,  almost  black;  spores  by  transmitted  light,  pale 
violet  or  lilac-tinted,  almost  smooth,  7.5-10  fi. 

liasily  distinguished  by  its  white  stipe,  columella  and  capil- 
litium in  strong  contrast  with  yellow  peridial  walls.  iV.  A.  F., 
1395.  Massee  refers  this  number  erroneously  to  P.  scJuuna- 
cJicri  Rost.  The  description  and  specimen  do  not  correspond. 
By  that  name  the  species  has,  however,  been  hitherto  known 
in  the  United  States. 

Eastern  United  States,  common  ;  rare  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

26.    Physarum  leucopus  Link. 

riATE  IX.,  •],  T  a,  "J  b. 
1809.     Physaruin  hitcopus  Link.  Viss.,  I.,  p.  27. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  stipitate,  globose,  snow-white,  with  a 
Didymiitin-\(kQ.  covering  of  calcareous  particles  ;  stipe  not  long, 
conical  or  tapering  rapidly  upward,  slightly  sulcate,  brittle, 
from  an  evanescent  hypothallus ;  columella  none  or  small ; 
capillitium,  consisting  of  rather  long  hyaline  threads,  connect- 
ing the  usual  calcareous  nodes,  which  are  large,  angular, 
snow  white ;  spore-mass  black  ;  spores  by  transmitted  light, 
violet  brown,  distinctly  warted,  about   10  /x. 

The  snow  white,  nearly  smooth  stem,  the  small  sporangium 
{\  mm.)  covered  with  loose  calcareous  granules,  distinguish 
this  rare  species.    It  looks  like  a  small  Didyminm  sqitainiclosuni. 

Rare.     Iowa.     Ohio ;  Lister. 


27.    Physarum  ravexelii  {Berk,  a  fid  C?irl.)  Mass. 

1873.  Didyminm  ravciielii  T.erk.  and  Curt.,  Grc7>.,  II.,  p.  53. 

1S92.  riiysanim  ravcnclii  Massee,  Mon.,  p.  281. 

1894.  Physanoii  )/inri>t;//ii  Lister.  Afyc't'/(>Z(>(j.  p.  41. 

1896.  Cyiidittm  nwoicUi  (li.  and  C),  Morgan, /e///-.  Ciii.  Soc,  p.  82. 

Sporangia  scattered,  globose  or  perfectly  spherical,  ashy 
brown,  rugulose,  stipitate  ;  stipe  elongate,  pale  brown,  erect, 
generally  somewhat  fusiform,   calcareous,  brittle  ;    hypothallus 


ashy- 
erect, 
hallus 


rHySARU.\T 


Ac^ 


none ;  columella  short,  hemis})herical  or  bluntly  conical ;  capil- 
litium  dense,  much  as  in  P.  globulifcrnm,  the  calcareous  nodules 
not  infrequent,  yellow,  small ;  spore-mass  brown ;  spores  by 
transmitted  li^jht,  bright  lilac,  almost  smooth,  6.5-7.5  M- 

A  very  distinct  species,  easily  known  by  its  peculiar  drab- 
colored  sporangia,  yellow  capillitium,  and  singular  fusiform 
stem.  In  the  persistence  of  the  capillitium  as  a  spherical  mass 
the  species  recalls  /'.  globiilifcnnn,  but  is  after  all  quite  unlike 
that  species.  The  peridium  is  sometimes  iridescent  above  and 
below,  corresponding  probably  to  the  "metallic  scales"  of  the 
original  description.     Grcvillca,  1873,  p.  53. 

Lister's  Cifort,  '  ,  to  place  this  species  under  P.  fctersii  or 
P.  piilcJiripcs  doe.^  not  seem  to  us  fortunate ;  and  his  P. 
murinuDi  is  certainly  the  same  thing. 

Not  rare.     Massachusetts,  New  York,  Ohio,  Missouri,  Iowa. 

28.    PiiYSARUM  PULCHERRiMUM  Berkeley  and  Ravciicl. 

1S73.     PJiysaruDi  pHkhcyyiiniiin  IJerk.  and  Rav..  Grcv.,  II.,  p.  6;. 
1875.     Physantui  piilclicriinuiii  (lUrk.  and  Rav.),  Rost..  Moii.,  u.  105. 
1879.     Physariim  atronibyiitn  Peck,  Rep.  X.  Y.  Miis.,  XXXI.,  p.  40. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  globose,  even  or  somewhat 
wrinkled,  dark  red,  stipitate ;  stipe  cylindric,  even,  sub-concolor- 
ous  or  blackish ;  columella  small  or  none  ;  cajDillitium  free  from 
spores,  whitish,  with  a  slight  pinkish  tinge ;  spores  dark  brown 
in  mass,  dark  red  when  sc|  'rated,  globose,  smooth,  7.5-8.5  /x. 

The  capillitium  is  very  dc.icate,  and  when  cleared  of  spores 
the  knot-like  thickenings  arc  seen  to  be  very  small  and  of  a 
dark  red  color,  to  which  is  probably  due  the  pinkish  tinge  which 
marks  the  whole.  A  part  only  of  the  thickenings  are  filled  with 
lime  granules.  The  dark  red  granules  of  the  sporangium  walls 
arc  abundant  and  appear  to  form  a  continuous  crust. 

This  is  /'.  atronibriivi  Peck,  and  his  description,  I.e.,  has 
been  closely  followed.  The  very  brief  description  in  Grevillea, 
however,  antedates  the  Xcw  York  publication  and,  all  inade- 
c[uate  as  it  is,  no  doubt  applies  to  the  same  thing. 

Not  rare.     New  York,  J^ennsylvania,  Ohio,  Missouri,  Iowa. 


ill 


']< 


('.^ 


»:  i 


B 


n 


<i    '' 


m 


ik    ( 


I'iri 


50  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 

29.    Phvsarum  rufipes  {Alb.  and  Sckiv.')  Morgan. 

1805.  PJiysarum  aiirantiacum  var.  riifipcs  Alb.  and  Schw.,  Consp.  Fung., 
p.  94. 

i<S29.  Diderina  rufipes  (Alb.  and  Scliw.),  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  loi. 

1873.  Physarum  pulchripes  Peck.,  Hull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.,  p.  64. 

1873.  Diilyiiiium  crythrinuin  Berk.,  Grev.,  II.,  p.  52  (perhaps). 

1873.     Physarum  pdersii  Berk,  and  Curt.,  Grev.,  II.,  p.  66. 

1875.  P/iysarutn  sc/iumacheri  Spr.  var.  rufipes  Alb.  and  Sclnv.,  Rost., 
MoH.,  p.  99. 

1894.     Pliysaruin  pulcJtripcs  (Peck).  Lister,  Alycetoaoa,  p.  41. 

1896.     Cytidium  rufipes  Alb.  and  Schw.,  Morgan,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc.  Nat. 

Hist.,  p.  81. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  dark  colored,  sprinkled  with  orange 
flakes  of  lime,  globose,  the  wall  thin,  deciduous,  stipitate ;  stipe 
slender,  erect,  deep  red,  sometimes  black  below,  pale  or  orange 
above,  and  supported  on  a  well-developed  hypothallas;  colu- 
mella scant  or  none ;  capillitium  dense,  the  meshes  and  nodes 
unusually  small  and  delicate,  the  latter  reddish  or  yellow ; 
spore-mass  black  ;  spores  by  transmitted  light,  violet  tinted, 
8.25  /u,  almost  smooth. 

The  striking  contrast  of  color  between  sporangia  and  stipes 
renders  this  species  quite  distinct  from  any  related  form.  The 
peridium  in  the  speciratens  before  us  are  black  or  iridescent 
black  sprinkled  more  or  less  profusely  with  orange  lime 
granules  which  sometimes  cover  all  but  the  base.  The  stipe, 
springing  from  a  small  hypothallus,  is  dark  red  below  for  about 
one-fourth  its  height,  then  vermilion,  above  expanding  slightly 
ben'^eath  the  peridium  ;  the  columella  scant  or  none.  The 
capillitium  is  an  elegant  delicate  net  with  numerous  small, 
uniformly  regular,  calcareous  nodes,  orange ;  by  transmitted 
light,  yellow.  i"he  sjiores,  brown  in  mass,  are,  by  transmitted 
light,  I'.ale  violet,  slightly  papillose,  8-10  //,  mostly  about  8  /n. 
The  Plasmodium  is  probably  yellow. 

This  species  is  no  doubt  closely  related  to  the  next.  It  is, 
however,  much  smaller,  haj»  a  calcareous  stipe,  and  a  much  less 
variegated  peridium,  and  generally  a  small  columella. 

Rostafinski   made  this  a  variety  of  P.  scJimnacJicri  Spreng., 


A 


prcng., 


rnvsARUM 


5x 


which  to  him  was  an  equivalent  of  Pliysaritni  citrinuni  Schum, 
P.  petcrsii  B.  and  C.  is  said  to  be  the  same  thing,  as  also 
P.  fulcliripcs  Peck. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio. 

30.  Phvsarum  psittacinum  Ditniar. 

181 7.     Physaruin  psittacinuin  Ditmar,  Sturm,  Dcutsch.  Fl.  Pilce,  p.  125. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  globose  or  depressed 
globose,  or  reniform,  iridescent  blue,  mottled  with  various  tints, 
red  orange,  yellow,  white,  stipitate ;  stipe  equal  or  tapering 
slightly  upward,  rugose,  orange  or  orange  red,  without  lime, 
rising  from  a  small  concolorous  hypothallus ;  columella  none ; 
capillitium  dense,  crowded  with  calcareous  brilliant  orange 
nodules  which  are  angular  in  outline  and  tend  to  aggregate  at 
the  centre  of  the  sporangium ;  spore-mass  brown ;  spores  by 
transmitted  light,  pale  brown,  slightly  but  plainly  vvarted,  about 
10  ^l.     N.  A.  F.,  2492. 

Differs  from  the  preceding  in  external  coloration,  the  perid- 
ium  a  rich  blue,  mottled  but  not  with  lime ;  in  the  capillitium, 
dense,  calcareous,  with  large  angular  or  branching  nodes  ;  in  the 
stipe,  without  lime ;  in  the  spores,  a  little  larger  than  in  P.  piil- 
chripcs,  and  by  transmitted  light  much  more  distinctly  brown  in 
color.  The  sporangia  are  also  broader  in  the  present  species, 
reaching  i  mm. 

Rare.     Maine,  New  York,  Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania. 

31.  Phvsarum  kodulosu^i  Coo/vC  and  Pa/fo/^r. 

1881.  Physaruin  noditlosion  Ckc.  and  Balfour,  Rav.  N.  A.  F.,  479. 

1889.  Badhamia  iioditlosa  Massee. /cw.  Myc.^  V.,  p.  186. 

1891.  Physaruin  calidri's  Ia^^qx,  Jour.  Pot.,  Vol.  XXIX,  p.  25S. 

1896.  Craterium  nodulosuin  Cke.  and  Balfour,  Morgan,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc, 
p.  87. 

Sporangia  gregarious ;  minute,  globose,  bluish  white,  the  spo- 
rangial  wall  thin  and  more  or  less  encrusted  with  lime,  breaking 
up  irregularly,  stipitate  ;  stipe  slender,  longer  than  the  sporan- 
gium, attenuate  upward  or  even,  bright  brown,  rugose,  expanded 


1 


M\ 


I 


I  ! 


f    'h 


f\\ 


52 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


above  into  a  shallow  cup-like  base  for  the  sporangium  ;  colu- 
mella none ;  capillitium  with  lime  knots  more  or  less  abundant, 
white,  often  uniting,  BadJiaviia-X^ii ;  spore-mass  black ;  spores 
by  transmitted  light,  pale  lilac  brown,  almost  smooth,  10-12  /a. 

One  of  the  smallest  species  of  the  genus,  by  its  proportion- 
ally long  stipe  and  small  round  sporangium  reminding  one 
somewhat  of  P.  globulifcrnm.  Much  smaller,  however,  and  in 
every  way  different.  The  generic  characters  are  mixed,  and 
the  species  has  been  accordingly  variously  referred.  The  lower 
part  of  the  pcridium  is  sometimes  persistent  after  the  dehiscence, 
and  so  far  reminds  of  Cratcriuvi.  15ut  this  character  is  not 
constant,  and  the  persisting  part  is  very  small,  not  greater  than 
in  /'.  mcUaini,  for  example.  On  the  other  hand,  the  capilli- 
tium in  some  sporangia  is  strongly  calcareous,  almost  as  in  Bad- 
Jiamia.  but  in  most  sporangia  the  PJiysariim  characters  are 
sufficiently  clear. 

South  Carolina,  Florida. 

32.    Physarum  obrusseum  {Berk,  and  Curt.)  Rost. 

1869.  Didymmin  obntsscinn  Berk  and  Q\\x\..,JoHr.  Linn.  Soc,  X,,  p.  348. 

1869.  Didyniinin  toicrritnuni  Berk  and  Curt.,  I.e. 

1875.  PJiysantvi  obrusseii»i  Berk  and  Curt.,  Rost.,  Mon.  App.^  p.  11. 

1890.  Physaniin  toicruin  Rex.,  I'roc.  Phil.  Acad..,  p.  192. 

1894.  Pliysaniin  polyinorphuni  Rost.  var.  obnisseii/n,  Lister,  Myc,  p.  48. 

Sporangia  scattered,  small,  \  mm.,  stipitate,  erect  or  nodding  ; 
the  peridium  thin,  membranaceous,  thickly  studded  with  circular, 
flattened  yellow  granules  of  lime ;  stipe  long,  slender,  subulate, 
opaque,  pale  brown,  striate  below,  pale  yellow  above ;  columella 
none  ;  capillitium  white,  delicate,  forming  a  loosely  but  regu- 
larly meshed  network  with  numerous  small  round  or  rounded 
granules  at  the  intersections ;  spores  dark  brown,  delicately 
warted,  7.5-8  fi. 

This  delicate  Physarum.,  very  fragile  and  evanescent,  seems 
to  be  distinct  by  reason  of  its  characteristic  rounded  lime  gran- 
ules from  any  similar  stipitate  species.  It  varies  a  little  accord- 
ing to  locality.     Ohio  specimens  are  a  little  larger  and  have 


T 


/   J 


;gu- 


cms 
ran- 
ord- 
lave 


L" 


I 


PHYSARUM 


53 


thicker  and  more  calcareous  stipes  than  is  usual  in  Philadelphia 
specimens.  The  walls  of  the  sporangia  when  fully  matured 
generally  rup'ure  into  several  petal-like  segments  which  finally 
become  retlexed.  The  description  given  by  Berkeley  is  entirely 
insufficient.     N.  A.  T.,  24S9. 

Rare.     Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Louisiana,  Texas, 

33.  PhVSARUM    GALBEUM     ]Villg(ltc\ 

i8go.     P/iysantin  ffall)eiiin  Wingate,  Ellis,  iV.  A.  /'.,  2491  (no  description). 
1S92.     Pliysarniii  petcrsii  Tk'rk.  and  Curt..  .Mass.,  Mon.,  p.  296  (in  part). 
1894.     Physantin  bcrkdcyi  Rost.,  Lister,  Mycctozoa,  p.  48  (in  part). 

Sporangia  scattered,  globose,  stipitate,  often  nodding,  golden 
yellow,  the  peridium  exceedingly  thin,  breaking  up  into  patches 
on  which  the  yellow  lime  granules  are  conspicuous  ;  stipe  non- 
calcareous,  pale  brown  or  amber  colored,  longitudinally  wrinkled, 
about  one  and  one-half  times  the  diameter  of  the  peridium  ; 
columella  none  ;  hypothallus  none  ;  capillitium  dense,  extremely 
delicate,  the  nodes  only  here  and  there  calcareous,  the  lime 
knots  when  present  small,  angular,  yellow ;  spore-mass  pale 
brown;  spores  almost  smooth,  lilac  or  violet-tinted,  7.5-10  \x. 

Distinguished  among  the  small  delicate  species  with  which  it 
will  be  naturally  associated,  by  the  yellow,  richly  calcareous  wall 
of  the  sporangium  and  the  almost  limeless  capillitium.  The 
stipe  is  hollow  and  contains  irregular  masses  of  refuse  granular 
matter,  but  no  lime  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  discover.  P . 
flavicomum,  to  which  the  species  is  related  most  closely,  differs  in 
having  the  wall  non-calcareous,  iridescent,  as  well  as  in  the  color 
throughout ;  the  character  of  the  capillitium,  in  which  lime  is 
abundant ;  the  absence  of  refuse  matter  in  the  stem. 

Pennsylvania,  Iowa,  Minnesota. 

34.  Phvsarum  flavicomum  Berkeley. 

ri.ATK  XV.,  I"i<,'s.  3,  3  a. 

1845.     P/iysanuii /Id-eicoi/iii/n  Berkeley,  Hook.  J^ur.  Pot.,  IV.,  p.  66. 
1873.     Pltysanmi  cnpript's,  lierk    and  Rav..  Grev.    II.,  p.  65. 
1875.     P/iysani/H  berkelcyi,  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  105. 


'^ 


■ !  A 


!    ' 


(I 


T        .      t'  I     i 


i   'fi: 


'' 


54 


T//E  A^O/rr//  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 


Sporangia  gregarious,  small,  spherical,  at  first  fuliginous 
throughout,  stipitate  ;  the  pcridium  thin,  destitute  of  lime,  irides- 
cent, breaking  uj)  and  deciduous  in  patches,  except  at  the  base ; 
stipe  twice  the  diameter  of  the  peridium,  brown,  Huted,  not  hol- 
low, tapering  upward  from  a  small  but  distinct,  radiant  hypo- 
thallus;  columella  none;  capillitium  dense,  persistent,  the  nodes 
frequently  calcareous,  elongate  and  vertical,  especially  below, 
yellow ;  spore-mass  brown ;  spores  by  transmitted  light  bright 
violaceous  brown,  slightly  papillose,  9-10  /u,. 

This  species  is  instantly  distinguishable  from  all  cognate  forms 
by  its  peculiar  sooty  color.  Not  less  is  the  species  structurally 
marked  by  its  capillitium.  The  latter  below  is  exactly  as  in  the 
species  of  Tilniadochc.  Indeed,  the  present  species  unites 
characters  supposed  to  distinguish  Physavnm  from  TibnadocJic, 
and  would  so  far  justify  those  authors  who  bring  all  the  species 
of  both  genera  together  under  one  generic  name.  In  any  case 
the  species  is  by  its  capillitium  entirely  distinct  from  /-'.  galbcuni, 
as  well  as  by  the  structure  of  the  stipe  and  the  peridial  surface. 
The  Plasmodium,  at  first  watery,  emerges  from  decayed  elm 
logs  and  soon  takes  on  a  peculiar  greenish  tint  preserved  some- 
what in  the  mature  fruit. 

Rostafinski,  Alonogmph,  pp.  105,  106,  rejects  Berkeley's 
specific  n^xno., Jlavico}>un>i,  because  it  refers  to  the  somewhat 
indefinite  characteristic,  color.  As  this  is  no  valid  reason  for 
change,  we  have  restored  Berkeley's  specific  name,  w^hich  by 
general  consent  has  priority.     N.  A.  F.,  3299. 

Not  common.     New  Jersey,  Ohio,  South  Carolina,  Iowa. 

35.    Physarum  nucleatum  Rcx. 

1891.     Physarum  micleatum  Rex.,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  389. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  spherical,  \  mm.,  white,  stipitate  ;  perid- 
ial wall  membranaceous,  rupturing  irregularly,  thickly  studded 
with  rounded  white  lime  granules  ;  stipe  about  i  mm.,  subulate, 
yellowish  white,  rugose  ;  columella  none,  capillitium  dense  snow- 
white,  with  minute  white  round  or  rounded  white  nodes,  in  the 
centre  a  conspicuous  mass  of  lime  forming  a  shining  ball,  not 


T 


PHVSARUM 


55 


by 


;rid- 

Idcd 

ate, 

liow- 

thc 

not 


part  of  the  stipe  although  sometimes  produced  toward  it ;  spore- 
mass  black ;  spores  brown  violet,  delicately  spinulose,  6-7  /a. 

This  species  most  nearly  resembles  in  appearance  and  habit 
of  growth  P.  globuUfcntm  Pers.,  but  may  be  distinguished  from 
it  by  the  absence  of  a  columella,  by  the  central  ball  of  lime,  and 
the  very  small  rounded  lime  granules  in  the  meshes  of  the  capil- 
litium.  Exceptionally  the  lime  granules  of  the  sporangium  wall 
are  sparse  or  absent  entirely,  in  which  case  the  wall  has  a  silvery 
or  coppery  metallic  lustre. 

Pennsylvania,  Nicaragua. 

36.  Physakum  penetkale  Rcx. 

ri-Ai-K  XV.,  I'igs.  6,  6  a. 
1891.     Physarum  pendrale  Rex.,  Proc.  Pliil.  Acad.,  p.  389. 

Sporangia  scattered,  erect,  stipitate,  generally  ellipsoidal 
or  pyriform,  rarely  globose ;  peridium  membranaceous,  semi- 
transparent,  studded  sparsely  with  rounded,  pale  yellow  or 
yellow  gray  lime  granules,  rupturing  to  the  base  into  two  to 
four  segments  ;  stipe  variable,  slender,  subulate,  rugose,  flattened 
laterally  toward  the  base,  translucent,  dull  red  or  golden  red  in 
color ;  columella  four-fifths  the  height  of  the  sporangium,  con- 
colorous  with  the  stipe,  acuminate ;  capillitium  dense,  persist- 
ent, the  nodes  frequently  calcareous,  rounded,  yellow ;  spore- 
mass  brown,  spores,  nearly  smooth,  brownish,  6-7  /x. 

Readily  recognizable  by  the  elongate  sporangia  and  the  length- 
ened columella  unique  among  PJiysanims.  The  capillitial  nodes 
are  at  first  pale  yellow,  but  soon  become  white  on  exposure. 
The  spores  when  highly  magnified  show  delicate  spinulescence. 

Maine,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa. 

37.  Physarum  rubiginosum  Fries. 

1817.     PJiysaniin  rubis^inosuiii  Fries.  Synib.  Cast.,  p.  21. 
1829.     Physaniin  fiilvmn  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  143. 

Sporangia  scattered,  globose  or  depressed  globose,  bright 
golden  yellow  or  orange,  small,  5-7  mm.,  sessile  or  short-stipi- 
tate ;    the  peridium  apparently  double,  the  wall  a  membrane, 


'r 


t 


m 


,.\ 


f ' 

T^ 

'  mwL 

1 

^  If  r 

1 

'  o 

) 

1 

■Hi 

^ 

V 

'm 

/ 

'   ■■! 


56 


yy//-;-  iVorth  americmst  sijme-moulds 


}cIU)\v,  continuous,  covered  over  with  large  reddisii  or  orange- 
colored  scales;  the  stipe  when  present  very  short  dark  brown 
or  black;  hypothallus  none;  capillitium  an  open  network  of 
delicate  colorless  threads,  uniting  large  angulate  orange-colored 
nodules ;  columella  none ;  spore-mass  dark  brown  ;  spores  by 
transmitted  light,  violet  brcjwn,  minutely  warted  or  almost 
smooth,  globose,    lO-ii  /i. 

We  have  here  referred  certain  forms  from  Washington  col- 
lected  by  Mr.  Savage  near  Seattle,  as  well  as  forms  collected 
by  the  author  on  Mount  Shasta.  These,  perhaps,  represent  the 
same  species  as  that  collected  by  Mr.  Ilarkness,  sent  to  Mr. 
Phillips  of  England,  and  by  him  named  Badlianiia  inanrata. 
Lister  quotes  the  spores  of  the  latter  as  8-io  \x.  in  diameter. 
In  the  Washington  specimens  some  of  the  spores  are  no  larger 
than  8,  but  most  are  nearer  1 1  /i.  The  American  specimens 
seem  more  decidedly  squamulosc  than  those  from  Europe,  with 
which  we  have  compared  them. 

Rare.    Probably  widely  distributed  on  the  Pacific  Coast ;  Ohio. 

38.    Physarum  citrinum  Schumacher. 

1803.     Physarum  citrinuin  Schumacher,  Eiiitiit.  PL  SaelL,  II.,  p.  201. 

Sporangia  gregarious  scattered,  globose,  somewhat  flattened 
below,  pale  yellow,  citrine  stipitate ;  the  peridium  thin,  covered 
almost  completely  with  small  calcareous  scales;  stij^e  stout, 
erect,  fragile,  tapering  upwards,  furrowed,  opaque,  arising  from 
a  small  hypothallus,  which  is  anon  continuous  from  one  sj^oran- 
gium  to  the  next ;  columella  ^mall,  conical,  yellow ;  capillitium 
a  rather  dense,  delicate  network,  the  calcareous  nodules  yellow, 
numerous,  roundish,  and  generally  small ;  spore-mass  black ; 
spores  under  the  lens  violaceous,  almost  smooth,  about  8  jx. 

This  species  seems  to  be  rare  in  the  United  States.  It  resem- 
bles somewhat  P.  ))icllc?nn,  from  which  it  is  distinguished  by  its 
yellow  stipe.  P.  galbciini  is  a  smaller  form,  and  lacks  the 
columella.  Rostafinski  strangely  confused  the  synonymy  here, 
mcluding  even  P.  riifipcs  A.  and  S. 

New  England,  Ohio. 


TILMADOCHE 


57 


3.  Tilmadoche  (/vvVi)  i'vc^i'A 

1849,     Ttbiiadochc  Fries,  Sunt.  Vti^.  Sc,  p.  454 

Si)orani;ia  usually  simple,  stalked,  breaking  irregularly,  with- 
out columella ;  pcridium  very  delicate,  thin-walled,  usually  with 
calcareous  granules;  capillitium  lace-like,  the  tubules  repeatedly 
dichotomously  branched  from  the  base,  terminating  by  very 
delicate  [joints  in  the  peridial  mttmbranc;  calcareous  thicken- 
ings not  numerous,  spindle-shaped,  small. 

The  genus  'rihiiadodw  is  by  some  authors  united  with  PJty- 
sarnm,  and  it  must  be  confessed  that  the  two  genera  are  so 
related  that  it  is  sometimes  a  difficult  question  to  say  to  which 
of  them  a  particular  species  is  to  be  referred.  Nevertheless 
the  group  of  species  here  presented  agree  among  themselves  in 
such  a  way  that  they  may  be  easily  set  off  and  limited  substan- 
tially by  the  lines  laid  down  by  Fries,  and  we  believe  that  in  so 
doing  the  convenience  of  the  student  is  better  conserved. 

Aside  from  the  general  delicacy  of  structure  the  principal 
distinctive  feature  of  Tilinadoc/tc  is  the  capillitium.  In  T. 
nutans  this  is  shown  in  its  typical  form  and  is  well  figured 
by  Rostafinski  {Mon.,  PI.  VIII.,  126  and  132).  The  threads  of 
the  capillitium  rise  vertically  from  the  fiat,  generally  persistent 
base  of  the  pcridium,  and  hence  are  in  their  general  course 
nearly  parallel  one  to  the  other.  This  is  in  sharp  contrast  with 
the  netted  intricate  framework  of  Physarnm. 


K 


I 


;'  1 


T.  polycephala 

.      .'.    r.  alhci 

3.   T.  I'in'i/is 

4,  T.  compacta 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Tilmadoche. 

A.  Sporangia  convolute,  polymorphous 

B.  Sporans^ia  simple. 

a.  Wall  ,u;ray  or  whitish  .... 

b.  Wall  yellow,  orange,  etc. 

c.  Wall  iridescent  white,  capillitium  nucleate 

I.    Tilmadoche  roLVCEPHAi-A  {ScJn^\)  Macbr. 

Plate  VIII.,  Fi^s.  2,  2a,  2b. 

l8j2.     Physaruvt  poh'icphaluin  Schweinitz,  Syn.  Ftctii^.  Car.,  No.  3S2. 
1829.     Didyiiiiii))!  polycepJiahim  (Schw.)  Fries.  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  122. 
1837.     Didymiuin  polyuiorphiDii  Moat.,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat..,  Ser.  2,  8,  p.  361. 


\\S 


58 


rilE  XORTH  AMERICAiY  SLIME-MOULDS 


i  i  I  i 


iw  ■   n 


'U; 


1837.     DidyiuiiiiH ,i,yrOit'p/talu/n  "SUmi.,  I.e. 

1.S75.     I'/iy.uuioH  polyiiiorp/iutn  ('S\n\\[.)  Rost.,  J/r';/.,  p.  107. 

1875.     T/ZwiK/oi/ii' ,i,''}'roit'/>/i(i/(i  (MoM.)  RoHt,,  Mo/i.,  p.  131. 

Spomn^na  spherical  or  irrcj^^ular,  impressed,  ^^yrose-conflu- 
ciit,  hclvelloid,  unibilicate  below ;  peridimn  thin,  ashy,  covered 
with  evanescent  yellow  s(|uamules,  fra^nle  ;  stipe  from  an  ex- 
panded membranaceous  base,  long-subulate,  yellow ;  spores 
smooth,  violet,  9-1 1  /i, 

A  most  singular  species  and  well  defined  is  this,  occurring  in 
masses  of  decaying  leaves  or  in  rotten  logs.  The  plasmodium 
at  first  colorless;  as  it  emerges  for  fructification,  white,  then 
yellow,  spreading  far  over  all  adjacent  objects,  not  sparing  the 
leaves  and  flowers  of  living  plants;  at  evening  slime,  spreading, 
streaming,  changing;  by  morning  fruit,  a  thousand  stalked 
sporangia  with  their  strangely  convoluted  sculpture.  The  even- 
ing winds  again  bear  off  the  sooty  spores,  and  naught  remains 
but  twisted  yellow  stems  crowned  with  a  pencil  of  tufted  silken 
hairs.     August. 

Although  Rostafinski's  description  of  this  species  is  accurate 
and  marks  exactly  a  TilDiadochc  and  is  very  different  from  his 
description  of  Pliysanim  polyviorphuui^  nevertheless  it  is  prob- 
able that  both  descriptions  have  reference  to  the  same  thing. 
All  specimens  on  which  both  species  were  based  were  Ajinricaii ; 
P.  polyniorpJium,  North  American.  But  the  only  North  Ameri- 
can form  to  which  reference  can  be  made  is  that  by  Schweinitz, 
called  P.  polyciplialiiui  and,  fortunately,  sufficiently  described. 
Furthermore,  Rostafinski,  under  T.  gyraccphala,  himself  affirms 
the  probable  identity  of  Montagne's  Didyniinui  gyroccpJialmn 
with  the  Schwcinitzian  species,  and  uses  Montagne's  specific 
name  provisionally.  For  these  reasons  it  seems  proper  to  write 
the  species  as  above. 

Widely  distributed  and  common,  from  Maine  and  Canada  to 
Nebraska,  and  Washington  and  south  to  Nicaragua. 

2.    TiLMADOCHE  KL^i\  {Bull.)  Ufacbr. 

1791.  SphcerocarpHs  albus  Bulliard,  Champ.,  p.  137,  t.  407,  Fig.  3,  and 
t.  470,  Fig.  I,  A-G. 


'     i  , 


TIIMADOCIIE 


59 


1791.  Slemouitis  alhii  (  Hull.)-  (imelin.  Syst.  Xat.,  p.  1469. 

1795.  J'/iystuiim  nutans  I'cis.,  C'st.  Ann.  />V'/.,  XV'.,  p.  6. 

1803.  Trkhui  ccrniia  Scluim.,  Siuli.,  II..  p.  241. 

iSjy.  Physamm  lernmini  (Scliiim.)  (in  part ).  V\-.,Syst,  Afyc,  III.,  p.  130. 

1X49.  Tilnuuiihlic  it'rniiii  (Scluiiu.)  Vx.,  Sitnnii.  /'<;;^.  p.  454. 

1873.  rdmadoihe  nutans  (Pcrs.)  Host.,  rcrs/a/i,  p.  10. 

Sporangia  grcfjariou.s,  doprcssed  spherical,  stipitatc,  iiml)ili- 
catc,  j;ray  or  white,  thin-walled,  nodding;  .stipe  long,  tapering 
uj)ward,  brown  or  ashen  white  above,  lightly  striate,  graceful ; 
caiMllitiiim  abundant,  threads  delicate,  intricately  combined  in 
loose  persi.stent  network  with  occasional  minute,  rounded,  or 
elongate  calcareous  nodules;  spores  minutely  roughened,  glo- 
bose, about  10  /A. 

The  nodding,  lenticular,  umbilicate  sporangium,  barely  at- 
tached to  the  apiculate  stipe,  is  sufficient  to  distinguish  this 
elegant  little  species,  recognized  and  quite  aptly  characterized 
by  mycologists  for  more  than  one  hundred  years.  As  Sp/nciv- 
carpus  alba  Ikdliard  first  prescribed  the  limits  by  which  the 
species  is  at  present  bounded.  The  description  by  Fries  ( .S>j>/. 
Myc.^  III.,  128)  is  especially  graphic  :  "  Peridium  very  thin,  in 
form  quite  constantly  lenticular,  umbilicate  at  base,  at  first 
smooth  then  uneven,  generally  laciniate  dehiscent,  the  segments 
persistent  at  least  at  base." 

The  stipe  is  usually  white  above,  fuscous  below,  at  the  apex 
almost  evanescent ;  hence  the  cernuous  sporangia.  The  same 
character  is  less  strikingly  manifest  in  the  species  ne.xt  following. 

Widely  distributed  in  the  eastern  United  States,  apparently 
rare  in  the  west. 


\\ 


1',' 


3.     TiLMADOCHE  viKiiMS  {Bitll.)  Saccardo. 

ri.ATK  VIII.,  Fi,i;s.  8,  8  (/,  S /',  8  r. 

1791.  SpJucrocarpus  viridis  lUilliard,  Champ.,  t.  407.  Y\%.  i. 

1791.  Splicrrocarpns  Ititais  I5ulliard.  C/uv/ip.,  t.  407,  Fig.  ii. 

1791.  Splurrocarpus  aiiraiitiiis  HuUiard.  Champ.,  t.  484.  Fig.  ii. 

1791.  Stemonitis  viridis  (Bull.)  Gniel.,  Sys.  Xat.,  j).  1469. 

1801.  Pliysariiin  nutans,  luteiim,  viride,  etc.  (Dull.)  I'crs.,  Syn.,  pp.  171- 


173- 


t( 


I  's 


i  1 


I  ¥t. 


60  THE  NORTH  AMERICAiV   SLIME-MOULDS 

1829.     PJiysariim  luitaiis  vars.  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  pp.  128-129. 

1875.     Tilinadoclic  inniabilis  Rost.,  Man.,  p.  129. 

1880.     Tilmadochc  viridis  (Bull.)  Sacc,  Michelia,  II.,  p.  263. 

Sporangia  globose,  flattened  or  lenticular,  beneath  plane  or 
concave,  variously  colored,  yellow,  greenish  yellow,  rusty 
orange,  stipitatc,  nodding ;  the  peridium  splitting  irregularly 
or  reticulately ;  stipe  variable  in  length  and  color,  through 
various  shades  of  red  and  yellow,  subulate ;  capillitium  strongly 
developed,  concolorous  with  sporangium,  the  tubes  with  color- 
less or  yellow  calcareous  thickenings ;  spores  smooth,  fuscous 
or  violet  black,  8  fx. 

A  very  handsome  and  rather  common  little  species,  like  the 
preceding,  but  generally  greenish  yellow  in  color,  and  occasion- 
ally brilliantly  orange  without  a  suggestion  of  green.  Indeed, 
the  color  is  so  variable  that  some  authors  have  been  disposed  to 
discard  the  species  entirely,  inasmuch  as  the  chief  specific  char- 
acter is  color.  The  plasmodium  is  pale  yellow,  in  rotten  logs, 
stumps,  etc.  In  the  paler  yellow  or  greenish  forms  the  stipe  is 
more  commonly  black. 

This  is  Physarum  lute  inn  (Bull.)  Fries,  and  likewise  also 
includes  the  three  varieties,  viridc,  aiircum,  coccincuni,  listed  by 
the  same  author  under  P.  nutans,  while  he  at  the  same  time 
remarks  that  they  n'iight  with  equal  propriety  be  elsewhere 
referred.  Rostafinski  considers  that  all  the  colored  forms  agree 
in  capillitium  sufficiently  to  be  associated  under  one  name  and 
are  in  the  same  way  unlike  T.  nutans.  Rostafinski  thinks 
to  avoid  confusion  by  suggesting  a  more  fitting  specific 
name,  T.  niutabilis,  but  there  seems  no  good  reason  for  not 
adopting  the  earliest  identifiable  specific  appellation,  which  in 
this  case  appears  to  be  viridis.  The  yellow  phase  is  common 
in  Iowa,  resembles  in  size,  color,  stipe,  P.  o-alhcum  Wingate, 
but  is  instantly  distinguishable  by  the  capillitium.  N.  A.  F., 
1213. 

Widely  distributed  specimens  are  before  us  from  New  Eng- 
land, New  York,  Pennsylvan^'a,  Maryland,  Ohio,  Nebraska, 
Iowa,  California,  Oregon,  Canada,   Nicaragua. 


TILMADOCHE 


6l 


I 


4.       TiLMADOCHE    COMPACTA     Wiltgiltc. 

ri.Ai'i.  XVI.,  Fi^'s.  J,  3  (?. 

1876.  TiliiiadoJic  coltimhiua  (IS.  and  C.)  Rost.,  ^[|1)t.  App.,  p.  13.  (?) 

1S89.  TiliiiadoJic  coiiipacta  Wingatc,  /'/(T.  .[cad.  Xat.  Si/.,  p.  48. 

1S92.  Lcpidodcr>!ia  stcllatuiit  Massce,  Moii..  p.  52.  /'d-.>7t'  JJster. 

1894.  I'liysanuii  lOiiipactmn  Lister.  Mycct'K:oa.  p.  45. 

1896.  riiysantDi  coinpactmn  (Wingatc),  'Ww-^Aw.Jotir.  Cin.  Soc.,  p.  qf. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  or  somewhat  erowdcd,  ereet  or  cernu- 
oLis,  stipitate,  gray  or  brownish  gray,  globose;  peritlium  tliin, 
metallic  brown  or  bronze  in  color,  splitting  at  maturity  in  liori- 
form  manner  into  six  to  twelve  segments ;  stipe  white  or  \el- 
lowish  white,  often  shading  U<  black  or  fuscous  below,  rather 
long,  tapering  upward;  hypothallus  none;  colimiella  none; 
capillitium  extremely  delicate,  white  or  colorless,  radiating  from 
a  central  lime  mass  or  nucleus,  and  with  ordinary  nodules  small 
and  few,  fusiform  ;  spore-mass  brown ;  spores  by  transmitted 
light,  violet  brown,  delicately  warted,  7-8  fi. 

This  species  is  well  marked  by  several  characteristics ;  the 
brilliant  wall  of  the  peridium,  white-flecked  and  laciniate,  the 
delicate  DidyuiiJini-Wkc  capillitium,  running  from  centre  to 
peridium,  and  especially  the  peculiar  aggregation  of  lime  at  the 
center  of  the  sporangium,  like  nothing  else  exce[)t  a  similar 
structure  found  in  Physaruni  nuclcatinii  Rex.  The  variations 
affect  the  stipe  and  the  distribution  of  the  capillitial  lime. 
Some  eastern  specimens  show  stipes  melanopodous,  black  be- 
low;  specimens  from  Ohio  and  Nicaragua  show  stipes  milk 
white  throughout.  As  to  the  capillitium,  in  some  of  the 
Nicaragua  collections  the  lime  is  more  uniformly  distributed 
through  the  capillitium,  and  accordingly  the  nucleus  is  not 
conspicuous,  its  place  being  taken  bv  two  or  throe  nodes  plainl)' 
larger  than  the  others.  The  peculiar  ])n)>vn  metallic  lustre  of 
the  peridial  wall,  and  the  strongly  developed  calcareous  jxitchcs 
witli  which  the  peridium  is  ci)vered  are  constant  features.  That 
this  is  the  J)ii/yiinii)i/  coi'/iiiibiiiinii  licrk.,  or  /'.  colmnbiiitx  (llerk.) 
Rost.,  is  very  doubtful  ;  the  specific  name  given  by  Wingatc  is 
therefore  adopted.     The  capillitium  is  extreitiely  delicate,  and 


* '. 


I  k' 


"1    ... 


t  "iH 


w 


.=^  I 


62 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


\ 


I  { ir 


!)•'  i 


^   n, 


It   '  ^  !■ 


I;' I 


>  '' 


■«'(■: 


sugp^csts   Didyuiiuni   in  its    f^cneral    form    and    trend,   but   the 
distribution  of  the  lime  is  physaroid. 

Probably  common  everywhere.  New  England,  Canada, 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Louisiana,  Nicaragua, 
Washington,  Oregon,  California,  Nevada. 

4.    Badhamia  Rostafinski. 

Sporangia  simple  ;  peridial  wall  simple,  thin,  breaking  irregu- 
larly ;  capillitium  formed  of  abundant,  richly  anastomosing 
tubules,  filled  throughout  their  entire  length  with  calcareous 
granules ;  the  nodes  often  feebly  represented ;  stipe  poorly 
developed  or  wanting  entirely ;  columella,  except  in  forms  here 
assigned  to  the  sub-genus  ScypJiiiiDi,  poorly  developed  or  none. 

This  genus  is  closely  related  to  Physarnm,  but  differs  in 
having  the  capillitium  calcareous  throughout.  Forms  occur 
and  are  included  here,  in  which  the  capillitium,  especially  in 
some  parts,  is  PJiysaruvi-X^ko..  Nevertheless,  the  distinctions 
hold  good  as  a  rule,  and  are  at  once  diagnostic.  Berkeley's 
idea  of  the  genus  was  expressed  as  follows :  "  Peridium  naked 
or  furfuraceous.  Spores  in  groups,  enclosed,  at  first,  in  a 
hyaline  sack."  Rostafinski  {Moh.,  p.  139),  while  accepting 
Berkeley's  generic  name,  redefined  it,  emphasized  the  calcare- 
ous capillitium,  and  made  reference  to  the  spore-adherence  only 
to  assert  that  Berkeley's  description  was,  in  this  particular, 
based  on  mistaken  observation.  In  some  species,  the  spores 
do  in  fact  show  a  tendency  to  cling  together,  a  characteristic 
which  Badham  was  perhaps  first  to  notice  ;  but  that  this  is  occa- 
sioned by  their  being  surrounded  by  a  sac  or  common  pellicle 
has  not  been  proved,  nor  even  suggested,  by  any  subsequent 
investigator,  Berkeley's  genus  was  therefore  founded  upon  a 
mistake,  a  misapprehension,  and  his  rights  in  the  premises  lapse 
altogether,  and  we  write  Badliauiia  Rostafinski. 

Our  species  of  Badhamia  fall  naturally  into  two  groups, 
according  to  the  degree  of  development  presented  by  stipe 
and  columella,  differences  hardly  sufficient  to  mark  two  genera, 


(1 


:a- 


a 


BADHAMIA 


63 


although    sometimes  so  regarded.      The  groups  may  be  con- 
veniently entered  as  sub-genera  as  follows  :  — 

//.   True  columella  none,  stipe  poorly  (leveloj^ed     .    Suh-c^ciius  Pjadiiamia 

B.    Stipe   well  developed,   prolonged  to  enter  the  sporangium  as    a    true 

columella Sitb-i^cnus  ScvriULM 


A.    Sub-Genus  BADHAMIA. 
Key  to  the  Species  of  Badhamia. 


I.  /).  dccipicns 
4.  /)'.  liluLina 


A.  Spores  non-adherent. 

a.  Feridium  yellow        ...... 

b.  Feridium  lilacine,  brownish      .... 

c.  Periilium  gray. 

i.  Sporangia  always  sessile  ....         2.  />'.  patiicca 
ii.  Sporangia,  at  least  some  of  them,  stipitate. 

*  Stipes  hmg,  weak,  yellow    .  .  .7.  />.  itiriciilaris 

**  Stipes  when  present,  short. 

t  Sporangia  discoid,  the  centre  depressed,    6.  li.orbiculaia 
tt  Sporangia  hemis})heric  or  globose. 

1.  Small;  spores  minutely  roughened.       5.  B.  afftnis 

2.  Larger  ;  spores  strongly  spinulose, 

10.  />'.  fnacr(harf>a 

d.  Feridium  brown 3-  •^'-  subaquila 

B.  Spores  adherent  in  masses. 

a.  Stipe,  when  present,  long  and  strand-like,  usually  yellow, 

8.  /)'.  capsulifcra 
b.  Stipe  when  present,  short,  black      .         .         g.  B.  papavcracca 

I.    Badhamia  dfxipiens  {Curtis)  Berkeley. 

1848.     Physantiii  dccipiciis  Curtis,  Am.Jonr.  Sr/.,  VI.,  p.  352. 
1873.     Badliainia  decipiciis  Berk.,  Grc7>.,  II.,  p.  66. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  depressed-spherical  or  ovate,  sessile, 
occasionally  plasmodiscarpous,  dull  yellow,  roughened  by  the 
rather  large,  numerous,  calcareous  scales  ;  columella  none ; 
capillitum  dull  orange,  strongly  calcareous,  only  slightl)'  widened 
at  the  nodes;  spore-mass  black;  spores  pale  violet,  minutely 
spinulose,  10-12  /a. 

Among  Badhamias  this  species  is  at  once  distinguished  by 
its  color.     If  the  brief  description  {Grev.,   II.,  p.  66)  can  be 


;•; 


iku 


„^  -^ 


64 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


I' 


\\ 

i 
i 

f    , 

%  i 

^ 

rcj^ardcd  as  dcfinini^  anythin<]^,  this  is  the  same  as  P.  cinyso- 
trichinii  B.  and  C.  It  resembles  somewhat  P.  scrpitla  Morj]^., 
but  differs  externally  in  color  and  in  the  surface  scales,  which 
are  not  perceptible  hi  the  PhysaruuL  The  present  species 
also  resembles  CicnkuivsJda  reticulata  (Schw.)  Rost.,  but  has 
a  different  capillitium.     See  under  that  species. 

Chiefly  eastern.  New  England,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  South 
Carolina. 

2.  Badhamia  panicea  {Fries)  Rost. 

1S29.     I'hysariiii!  paiiicciiiii  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  141. 

1873.     Badhamia  paiiuca  (Fr.)  Rost.,  Fuckel, Sym.  Myc.  NacJitr.,  2.  p.  71 . 

Sporangia  gregarious  or  aggregated  in  closely  compacted 
clusters,  globose  or  hemispherical,  sessile,  the  peridium  thin, 
transparent,  thickly  dotted  with  white  calcareous  scales ;  stipe 
none ;  columella  none,  although  a  pscudo-columella  sometimes 
appears,  formed  by  a  more  dense  development  of  the  capilli- 
tium near  the  centre  of  the  sporangium  below ;  capillitium 
abundantly  developed,  quite  uniformly  thickened,  but  showing 
an  occasional  delicate  connecting  thread,  the  nodes  also  some- 
what flattened  and  enlarged ;  spore-mass  black ;  spores  by 
transmitted  light  bright  violaceous  brown,  minutely  roughened, 
10-13  A*-     Plasmodium  is  said  to  be  white. 

This  seems  to  be  a  purely  western  species.  Specimens  are 
before  us  from  western  Iowa  and  from  South  Dakota.  It  is 
very  well  marked,  though  liable  perhaps  to  be  mistaken  at 
first  sight  for  sessile  phases  of  J^.  iiifroidcuin  Rost.  or  P. 
cincrcitui  Batsch.  The  capillitium  is,  however,  at  once 
determinative. 

3.  Badhamia  subaouila  UTacbr.  n.  s. 

Sporangia  closely  gregarious  or  crowded,  globose  or  sub- 
globose,  sessile,  brown,  the  peridium  a  thin  but  persistent 
brown  membrane,  rupturing  above  irregularly  and  remaining 
as  a  cup  after  spore  dispersal;  h\'i)othallus  none;  capillilKiU! 
strongly   developed,    thoroughly  calcareous,  the  meshes  la'_:!;, 


BADIIAMIA 


65 


the  nodular  thickcninc^s  broad,  v>hit: 


lobo? 


c  ;  spores  globose,  in  mass 


black,  by  transmitted  light  brown,  very  rough-warted,  large, 
15-18  /w. 

This  species  is  founded  on  material  sent  from  Maine  by 
Mr.  F.  L.  Harvey.  Professor  Harvey,  f.pon  the  authority  of 
Mr,  IMorgan  of  Ohio,  ([uotes  the  species,  />'////.  'J'or.  Iu>t.  C!:ib, 
24,  67,  as  />.  I'ctiia  (Somm.)  Rost.  ]')Ut  the  s]:)ecihiens  cer- 
tainly do  not  conform  to  description  of  />'.  vcnia  as  given  by 
Fries,  Syst.  jIIj'c,  III.,  146,  or  Rostatinski,  Man.,  p.  145.  PVies 
describes  the  peridium  as  properly  white ;  fuscous,  black  only 
because  of  the  contained  spores.  Here  the  wall  corresponds 
with  what  is  seen  in  />.  rnbiginosa.  In  fact  the  present  s[^e- 
cies  resembles,  suggests,  a  large  sessile  form  of  /'.  rnh'j^inosa  ; 
but  the  spores  are  much  larger,  and  the  capillitial  structure 
very  different.  Rostafinski's  description  and  notes  suggest 
the  propriety  of  Lister's  disposition  of  B.  verna  (Somm.)  Rost., 
i.e.  combination  with  B.  panicca. 

Rare.     On  mossy  logs,  Maine, 


X 


s^ 


ri 


I ,'  I 


<r 


4.    Badiiamia  lilacixa  {Fries)  Rost. 

1829.     Physanim  lilacimim  Fries.  Syst.  Afyi:.,  III.,  p.  141, 
1875.     lladliaiiiia  lilacina  (Fries)  Rost.,  Moii..  p    145. 
1892.     Cratoiuvi  lilaciiium  Mass.,  Moii.,  p,  271. 

Sporangia  globose,  sub-globose,  or  obconical,  sessile,  gregari- 
ous or  more  or  less  clustered,  supported  by  a  thin  continuous 
transparent  hypothallus ;  the  peridium  smooth  pale  lilac  brown 
without,  white  within ;  stipe  none,  although  some  sporangia 
have  a  narrowed  base;  columella  none,  the  pseudo-columella 
formed  by  a  more  densely  aggregated  ca))illitium  near  the 
base;  capillitium  dense,  white,  strongly  nodulrse  ;  spf)rc-niass 
black;  spores  dark  violaceous  brown  by  transmitted  light,  di.s- 
tinctly  warted,  or  reticulate,  the  reticulations  resembling  some- 
what those  of  some  of  the   Trichias,  as    T.  afflnis,    10-15   /"■• 

Easily  recognizable  generally  at  sight  by  its  peculiar  color. 
White  forms,  howc\er,  occur,  often  lilac  tinted  and  white  from 
the  same  plasmodiuni.     A  2:)',:;rfectly  white  colony  seems  to  be 


■  ;M'i 


I ' : 


66 


rifE  NORTH  AMERICAN-  SLIME-MOULDS 


rare.  Both  colors  are  shown  in  specimens  distributed.  ''".  A. 
R,  24C)4. 

Common  eastward,  New  England,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  etc. 
Not  reported  west  of  the  Mississippi  River. 

Whatever  the  color,  the  spores  arc  in  every  case  positively 
diagnostic.  The  cpisporic  markings  are  unlike  those  of  any 
other  species  in  the  present  order.  Dr.  Rex  describes  some 
New  York  forms  as  provided  with  a  short  but  distinct  stipe. 
Such  forms  resemble  externally  Scypliinvi  rubiginosmn  (Chev.) 
Rost.     The  hypothallus  is  also  unique. 


F   I 


I  ' 


H 


V  J' 

r  , 


5.  Badiiamia  affims  Rosiafi)isJd. 
1875.     BadhaDiia  ajfniis  Rost.,  Moit.,  p.  143. 

Sporangia  aggregated,  cespitose  and  sessile,  or  somctim'^G 
stipitate,  depressed  above,  flat  or  umbilicate  below,  the  wall 
grayish  white,  rugulose,  and  more  or  less  calcareous-scaly ; 
the  stipe  when  present  erect  or  sometimes  nodding,  black  or 
brownish  black  ;  hypothallus  scanty ;  columella  none  ;  capilli- 
tium  not  abundant,  white,  the  nodes  somewhat  expanded ;  spores 
globose,  minutely  roughened,  violet  brown,  large,   16-17  /i. 

Chiefly  on  moss,  the  pale  ashen  sporangia  generally  very 
small,  mounted  on  the  tips  of  the  leaves,  sometimes  sessile, 
sometimes  with  a  distinct  black  stipe  in  which  case  the  perid- 
ium  is  distinctly  umbilicate.  Specimens  from  Kansas  referred 
here  have  the  stipe  pale,  rugose,  long,  about  twice  the  sporan- 
gium ;  habitat  bark. 

Rare.     New  York,  Ohio,  Kansas. 

6.  Badhamia  orbiculata  Rcx. 

ri.ATh  XTV.,  Fii;.  4. 

1893.  Badhamia  oyhiculata  Rcx,  Proc.  Phil,  .'had.,  p.  373. 

1894.  Badhamia  macrocarpa  Rost.,  Lister,  Mycetozaa.,  p.  34  (in  part). 

Sporangia  stipitate  or  sessile,  orbicular  discoidal,  irregularly 
elongated  or  plasmodiocarjious,  averaging  about  i  mm.  in 
width,  generally  stipitate,  and  when  stipitate,  flattened  or  de- 


rly 


BADHAMIA 


67 


pressed  above,  plane  or  slit^htly  umbilicatc  below ;  the  pcridium 
simple,  more  or  less  translucent  from  the  varyinj^  number  of 
innate  granules,  sometimes  covered  with  circular  flat  masses 
of  lime,  gray  except  the  point  of  attachment  to  the  stipe  which 
is  brown  ;  stipe  short,  black,  rough,  plicate ;  capillitium  dense 
at  the  centre,  radiant  at  the  peripliery  where  it  meets  the  spo- 
rangial  wall,  white ;  spores  violaceous  black,  minutely  warted, 
12-15  \x. 

This  is  a  beautiful  species,  easily  known  by  its  discoidal  or 
almost  annulate  sporangia  mounted  upon  short  dark  black 
stipes.  The  stipe  in  western  collections  is  sometimes  very 
short,  but  always  suffices  to  raise  the  sporangium,  a  little  at 
least,  above  the  substratum.  Sessile  and  plasmodiocarpous 
forms  do  occur  with  the  typical  stii)itate  phase,  but  may  be 
regarded  here  as  elsewhere  as  indicative  of  incomplete  devel- 
opment.    Plasmodium  cream  colored,  or  jnile  yellow. 

Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  South  Dakota,  Colorado. 

7.     Badhamia  utriculakis  (Bull.)  Berkeley. 

ri.ATK  XI\'.,  Fii;.   I. 

1791.  SphcerocarpHS  utricttlaris  Bullianl,  Champ.,  p.  128,  t.  417,  Fig.  I. 

1826.  Pliysaruin  utriciilarc  ChcvaliLT,  I'l.  Paris.  I.,  p.  T^yj. 

1829.  r/iysancin  utricularc  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  139. 

1852.  P>adliaiiiia  utriciilaris  (Ikill.)  Berkeley,  Tr.  Linn.  Sac.,  XXI.,  p.  153. 

1892.  Badliatnia  varia  Massee,  Mon.,  p.  319  (in  part). 

Sporangia  clustered,  spherical  or  ovoid,  large,  sessile  or 
mounted  on  long  thin  strand-like  stalks,  blue  gray,  violet  irides- 
cent or  cinereous,  smooth  or  more  often  rugulose ;  the  stipes 
when  present  poorly  differentiated,  as  if  thread-like  filaments 
and  strips  of  the  plasmodium,  often  branched  and  always 
reclining  or  even  prostrate;  hypothallus  none;  capillitium  a 
large-meshed  open  network  of  rather  slender  tubules,  the 
nodes  unequally  developed,  white  with  the  enclosed  lime ; 
spores  not  strictly  adherent  though  not  without  some  ten- 
dency to  stick  together,  delicately  warted,  bright  violet  brown, 

IO-I2  /t. 


\A 


■^ 


''V 


(    i 


n  ri 


68 


THE  NORTH  AM  ERIC  A  lY  SLIME-MOULDS 


V  ^ 

\ 

i 

I 

If,:' 

V 

1  ll ' ' 

1 

1 

1 

i      11 

This  species  resembles  /'.  capsulifcm,  l)ut  is  distinguished  by 
a  more  strongly  rugulose  peridium  and  a  more  profuse  devel- 
opment of  filamentous  stipes,  but  especially  by  the  character 
of  the  spores.  The  spores  of  the  present  species  while  in- 
clined, when  mounted  in  a  liquid,  to  stay  together,  nevertheless 
do  not  coalesce  in  heaps  as  in  the  related  species,  nor  do  they 
show  any  differentiation  in  the  episporic  markings,  these  being 
uniform  over  the  entire  spore. 

8.    Badiiamia  capsulifeka  {Bull.)  Berkeley. 

1791.  SpJurrocarpus  capsnlifcr  Bull.,  Cliaiiip.,  p.  139,  t.  470.  Fi,s?.  2. 

1801.  Phvsaruin  hyaliiiitiii  Porsoon.  Syii.  Mcth.  Lun..  p.  170? 

ICS52.  Biulliatnia  capsiilifcra  Berk.,  Tr.  Liii.  Sin.,  XXI.,  p.  153. 

1852.  Biidhainia  hyalina  Berk.,  Tr.  Lin.  Soc,  XXI.,  p.  153. 

1875.  r>iulliaiiiia  Jiyali)ia  (I'ers.)  Rost..  Mon.,  p.  139. 

1875.  Inidliamia  capsiilifcra  (Bull.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  141. 

1892.  luidhantia  varia  Massee,  Mon.^  p.  319  (in  part). 

1894.  Badhaniia  hyalina  Lister,  ALycetozoa,  p.  30. 

Sporangia  clustered  or  gregarious,  sessile  or  sometimes  stipi- 
tate,  globose  or  obovoid,  gray  or  grayish  white,  snow  white 
when  empty ;  the  peridium  thin,  translucent ;  the  stipe,  when 
present,  as  in  B.  utricnlaris,  although  generally  better  devel- 
oped, yellow  or  straw  colored;  capillitium  a  very  loose,  open 
network  of  white,  lime-filled  tubules,  not  much  expanded  at 
the  nodes  ;  columella  none  ;  spore-mass  purplish  brown  ;  spores 
adhering  in  clusters  of  five  or  six  to  twenty  or  more,  globose, 
but  affected  somewhat  by  mutual  pressure,  rough  throughout, 
the    exposed   surface   in    the   cluster,    most   distinctly    warted, 

10-12   /U.. 

This  is  Badluwiia  hyalina  (Pcrs.)  Berk.  (Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  139), 
but  Rostafinski  himself  admits  that  the  two  species,  here  united, 
as  he  defined  them,  are  very  much  alike,  having  "the  same 
spores  and  capillitium,"  differing  in  the  form  of  the  sporan- 
gium, an  inconstant  feature.  Bulliard's  name  has  precedence ; 
his  descriptions  of  this  and  the  preceding  species  arc  remark- 
able.    P.  magna  Peck  probably  belongs  here. 

'rhc  peculiarly  adherent  spores  di.stinguish  the  species  from 


BADHAMIA 


69 


B.  ittriciilaris ;   and   the  sporan^aa  sessile,  or  with  strand-like 
stipes,  distinj^uish  it  from  />.  pnpiri'iraci'ii. 

Not  uncommon  from  Now  Enf,dand  west  to  Iowa ;  rare  west 
of  the  Mississippi  River. 

9.  li.VDlIAMlA    I'Al'AVEKACEA  Bcrk.  (lud  RaV. 

I'lAlK  \.,   l'i;^s.  6,  ()<i,  ()l>. 

1873.     lujii/ujiiiia  papai'tiiucd  lierk.  and  l\av.,  (J/t':'.,  II.,  p.  GG. 
1S94.     lUidluvnia  Ityalina  \\\\.  papaveracca  Lister,  Mycctozod,  p.  30. 

Sporangia  closely  gregarious,  globose,  large  stipitate,  irides- 
cent gray ;  the  peridium  th.in,  translucent,  and  containing  but 
little  calcareous  deposits,  :-:nooth  ov  slightly  rugulose ;  stipe 
very  short,  but  generally  distinct  black  or  very  dark  brown  ; 
h'ypothallus  none  ;  capillitiun  a  network  of  large  meshes  with 
expanded  nodes,  prominent,  white,  persistent  after  the  spores 
have  been  blown  away ;  spore-mass  deep  brown  ;  sj)ores  ad- 
herent as  in  />.  capsulifcra,  marked  in  much  the  sani.Q  way,  and 
about  the  same  size,  10  -12.5  /a. 

Distinguished  by  its  short  dark  stijie  and   adherent  spores. 

Not  common.  New  England,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Maryland, 
South  Carolina,  Wisconsin,  Iowa. 

10.  Badhamia  macrocarpa  (Ccs.)  Rflstajinski. 

1S55.     Pliysaniin  /nacriwarpon  Cesati,  Flora,  p.  271. 
1875.     Badliainia  macrocarpa   (Ces.)  Kost.,  Mo)i.,  p.  143. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  closely  aggregate,  crowded  globose 
or  sub-globose,  generally  sessile,  rugulose,  white  ;  the  peridium 
membranous,  white  above,  below  yellowish  or  brown  ;  capillitium 
not  abundant,  thoroughly  calcareous,  the  nodes  broad,  conspicu- 
ous, the  connecting  tubules  rigid;  columella  none;  hyimthallus 
scant  or  none  ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  non-adherent,  b\'  trans- 
mitted light  briglit  clear  brown,  thickly  spinulose  all  over,  large, 
spherical,  12-15  t^- 

Closely  resembles  externally  B.  paniccn,  but  is  casil}'  distin- 
guished by  larger  and  remarkably  spinidosc  sjDores,  in  this 
particular  unrivalled  in  the  entire  genus.      European  authors 


t( 


:!        ,t 


\v 


•\\  I 


^ 


70 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN   SLIME-MOULDS 


describe  both  sessile  and  stijjitate  forms.  The  only  American 
specimens  we  have  seen  are  sessile  and  for  the  most  part  closely 
crowded,  almost  heaped. 

Apparently  rare.     New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania. 


S.  ■'* 


u 


W 


,  |i' 


/?.    Sub-Genus  SCYPHIUM. 
This  section  contains  but  a  single  species :  — 
II.    Badiiamia  rubiginosa  {C/icv.)  Rost. 

ri.AlK  \.,   I''ijj;s.  I,   I  (/,  I  /',   I  c. 

1826.  Physaritm  rubii^inosiitu  Chevalier,  FL  Par.,  p.  338. 

I.S72.  Craicriitm  oboraliini  I'eck.  Rep.  iV.  Y.  Mits.,  XXVI.,  p.  75. 

1875.  Scyphiuin  rtihi::;iiii'suin  (Chev.)  Rost.,  A/on.,  p.  148. 

1876.  lUidhainia  rubis^inosa  (Chev.)  Rost.,  Moii.  App.,  p.  5. 
1892.  Cratcrimn  ritbi;,:;inosiiin  Massec,  Man.,  p.  270. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  obovoid,  £^rayish  brown,  stipitatc,  the 
pcridium  simple,  membranous,  above  thin,  pale,  more  or  less 
calcareous  below,  more  persistent  blending  with  the  stipe ; 
stipe  erect,  reddish  brown  or  purplish,  expanded  below  into  a 
small  hypothallus,  above  prolonged  within  the  sporangia  more 
than  half  its  height  as  a  definite  columella ;  capillitium  very 
dense,  snow  white,  long  persistent  with  the  lower  two-thirds 
of  the  sporangial  wall ;  spore-mass  dark  brown ;  spores  by 
transmitted  light  dark  violet  or  purple  brown,  minutely  rough- 
ened or  spinulose,  not  adherent,   12-14  11. 

This  is  probably  the  most  common  Badhamia  in  the  country 
and  in  the  world.  It  is  found  every  year,  in  the  woods,  on 
masses  of  decaying  leaves,  especially  those  of  various  species 
of  oak.  The  plasmodium  is  yellow.  The  fructifications  are 
very  distinct,  not  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  those  of  any  other 
species  ;  the  stipes  constitute  a  very  prominent  feature  in  every 
gathering  I  have  seen.  Sometimes  these  are  more  or  less 
coalescent,  especially  toward  the  base,  where  they  are  apt 
to  be  also  wrinkled  or  longitudinally  striate ;  in  other  speci- 
mens the  stipes  are  well  differentiated,  long,  terete,  with  little 
or  no  hypothallus. 


rilVSA/^ELLA 


n 


Badliamia  cini is i i  {Wcrk.)  Rost.  is  arcorilinq;  to  Lister  (JAv/., 
p.  35)  a  sessile  i)hase  of  this  species.  The  only  sjiecimcns 
known  are  in  the  "  Herbarium  "  of  lierkelcy,  now  at  Kew.  If 
one  might  judj^e  from  the  detailed  descriptions  <^ivcn  l.y  Rosta- 
finski  and  Massee,  it  would  seem  probable  that  />.  curtisii  is 
a  variety  of  />'.  lilacina,  since  both  of  these  authors  describe 
the  columella  of  P>.  curtisii  as  formed  from  the  a<;'greL;ati<in,  at 
the  centre,  of  calcareous  nodules,  and  not  by  the  intrusion  or 
upward  extension  of  the  stii)e  as  is  the  case  always  in  />'.  >  :l'i- 
giiiosa.  If  this  should  prove  true,  the  absence  jf  the  species 
from  our  American  collections  is  explained. 


i8S: 


5.   Physarella  Peck. 

Physarella  Peck.,  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,  IX.,  p.  6i. 


Sporangium  pervious  to  the  base,  the  interior  walls  forming 
a  persistent  spurious  columella  ;  capillitium  composed  of  fila- 
ments with  here  and  there  minute  knot-like  thickenings,  straight 
tubes  containing  lime  granules  extending  from  the  exterior  to 
the  interior  walls  of  the  sporangium,  persistently  attached  to 
the  former. 

Such  is  Dr.  Peck's  original  description  of  this  most  peculiar 
genus.  The  form  of  the  sporangium  in  the  only  species  is  very 
variable,  but  in  typical  cases  is  vasiform,  the  peridial  wall  at 
the  apex  introverted.  The  capillitium  is  like  that  of  Tihua- 
</(;^/^i',  except  for  the  presence  of  the  "straight  tubes"  empha- 
sized in  the  original  description.  These  are  very  remarkable 
and  at  once  diagnostic.  They  take  origin  in  the  sporangial 
wall  and  pass  across  to  the  "  columella  "  ;  but  at  the  dehiscence 
of  the  sporangium,  in  typical  cases,  they  remain  attached  at 
the  points  of  origin,  projecting  as  stout  spine-like  processes. 


■\\ 


<  IP 


m 


I.    Physarella  oblong  a  {Berk,  and  Cke.)  Morgan. 

Pi..\TK  VITL,  Figs.  4,  4(7,  4  i^,  4f  ;    Platk  XVL,  VVg.   i. 

1S73.     TrichaDipJwra  oblouga  Berk,  and  Cke.,  Grcv.,  II..  p.  66. 
1876.     Tilinadochc  obloiiga  (Berk,  and  Cke.)  Ro.st.j  Mon.  App.,  p.  13. 


•;  I  ;• 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

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23  WIST  MAIN  SrREfT 

WIBSTIIt,N.Y.  )45M 

(716)  •72-4503 


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72 


rilh:  Ni)RTI!  A^n-.RICAiV   SIJME-MOrLns 


1S76.  Tiliiiadoihi-  liiatis  Kost..  Mint.  App.,\t.  14. 

1882.  riiysarilhi  iiiirabilis  I'cck.  /.'////.  I'orr.  Hot.  Club,  IX..  p.  6r. 

1893.  Pltyaarella   ol'/oiii^a    (IJcrk.   ;uul  L'kc.)    Mur;,Mii.  yrv//'.   'in.  Soc, 
p.  7(j. 


'/I 


>*  ■■  '.' 


^'' 


Sporani^ia  scattered  or  grcfjarious,  typically  cu|vshapecl  or 
sub-iiilunclibuliforni,  stipitate,  erect  or  cermious,  but  varyinj^ 
throuj;h  low  salver-shaped  cups,  to  irregular  applanate  and 
sessile  masses,  the  peridium  thin  but  firm,  tawny,  roughened  by 
numerous  yellowish  calcareous  scales,  at  length  rujitured  above 
and  often  reflexed  in  the  form  of  petal-like  segments  from 
which  project  upwards  the  spiniform  trabecules  of  the  capilli- 
tium  ;  stii)e  when  present  long,  terete,  red,  arising  from  a  scant 
hypothallus  and  extended  within  the  sporangium  to  form  the 
tubular  columella ;  capillitium  of  delicate  violaceous  threads 
seldom  branched  or  united,  radiating  from  the  columella  with 
few  calcareous  nodular  expansions,  but  supported  by  stoi  t  yel- 
low calcareous  trabicules,  running  parallel  to  the  capillitial 
threads,  long  adherent  to  the  sporangial  wall ;  spores  smooth, 
globose  violet  brown,   7-8  /*. 

Not  uncommon  in  wet  places.  New  York,  Ohio,  Iowa,  South 
Dakota,  Louisiana,  Nicaragua. 

Not  the  least  remarkable  feature  of  this  remarkable  species 
is  the  variation  in  the  form  of  the  fruit,  or  asporangia.  I  have 
specimens  from  Louisiana  (Rev.  Langlois)  which  show  no 
trace  of  columella,  the  whole  structure  involute  and  plicate, 
short  stipitate,  recalling  the  extremest  complexity  of  such  a 
species  as  'rUniadochc  polyceplialix.  Moreover,  in  these  speci- 
mens the  calcareous  deposits  are  white  and  not  yellow,  giving 
the  entire  fructification  a  grayish  aspect.  Yet  there  is  no 
doubt  we  have  here  simply  an  exaggerated  abnormality  of  the 
species ;  the  spores  are  identical  in  size,  color,  and  surface. 
Plasmodium  bright  yellow.  Dr.  Peck  gave  to  his  forms  the 
name  P/iysarc//a  luirabi/is,  but  specimens  sent  by  Michener 
of  Pennsylvania  and  by  Berkeley  and  Cooke  described  as 
TricJtauiphora  oblonga  {Grcv.,  IL,  p.  66)  arc  the  same  thing. 
N.  A.  P.,  1 2 12. 


CRATER  fU.\f 


71 


6.    Craterium  TntitipoliL 

1797.     Craterium  Trciitepolil.  Kotli,  CataL,  I.,  p.  224. 

Si)()rani;ia  more  or  loss  distinctly  cvathitmn,  stiiutato,  the 
jicridium  <;oncrally  plainly  ot  two  hiNcrs  oi-  o\cn  ol  three, 
openiiii^  at  the  toj)  by  circuniscission  inoie  or  less  delinite,  or 
by  a  distinct  lid,  the  iijiper  jiart  calcareous  olten  to  a  marked 
decree,  the  lower,  cartilaijinous,  lon^  i)ersistenL  as  a  vasilorm 
cuj)  containin;^^  the  cai)illitium  and  si)ores,  the  calcareous  nodes 
a^f^^e^ating  more  or  less  to  form  a  pseLido-columelia. 

This  ^^enus  is  distinj^uished  from  P/iys<irinii  and  /uu/Z/tiniia 
chiefly  by  the  form  of  the  sjioranj^ia  and  the  method  of  dehis- 
cence. The  capillitium  is  in  some  specimens,  ])articularly,  of 
the  Physarum  type ;  in  others,  like  that  of  Ihi(//ia»iia.  There 
arc  accordingly  species  that  receive  at  the  hands  of  different 
authors  diverse  generic  reference  as  one  feature  or  another  in 
the  structure  is  emphasized  in  the  different  cases.  It  is  granted 
that  it  is  hard  to  draw  the  line  sometimes  between  forms  in 
which  the  dehiscence  is  irregularly  circumscissilc  and  those  in 
which  the  wall  breaks  without  any  irregularity  whatever,  since, 
in  all,  the  breaking  up  of  the  peridium  usually  begins  at  the  top. 
Species  here  included  will,  however,  offer  little  ambiguity. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Craterium. 
A.    Dehiscence  circumscissile  or  Iiy  the  breaking  uj)  of  the  upper  wall  of 


the  sporangium. 

a.  Sporangia  violet  or  purple 

b.  Si)orani,na  yellow. 

1.  Sporani,na  vasiform 

2.  Sporan!j;ia  j^lohose 

c.  Sporan<,na  \vhito-c.ip]ie(I. 

1.  Si)oian!;ia  ohovoid  or  gl()l)oirl 

2.  Sporanicia  cyliiidric.  elongate 
B.    Dehiscence  by  a  (listiiict  lid. 

a.  Cai^iliitium  pale  brown 
/>.   Ca[jillitium  while 


3.  C.  ridieui'iis 

1.  C.  auriniii 

2.  C  >ii(iyi/is 

4.     C.  h'llLihCpliallDIl 

5.  C.  iiiii'.iiituin 

.   6.  C.  it>!hiiii!nin 
7.   C'.  Hiiiuitiiin 


I.  ' 


I.   Craterium  aureum  (Sc/iinn.)  Rost. 

1803.     Trichia  aiirea  Sclmm.,  Enuin.  PI.  ^aelL,  II.,  p.  207. 


74 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SI.IME-MOULDS 


;;i 


1S29.      Cratcntim  inutahilc  Fries.  .SV.iY.  J/iv.,  III.,  p.  154. 
I1S75.     Ctutttrii(i/i(tiiittini{iic\\\\m.)  Kost. ,.'/'''/■.  p.  125. 

S|)()ran,t;i;i  ^rc^^arious,  globose  or  ohovoid,  stipitatc,  yellow, 
erect,  tiic  i)criclial  wall  Ihin,  csjiccially  at  the  siinimit,  where  at 
maturlly  it  breaks  up  somewhat  reticiilately,  leavini;  the  persist- 
ent lower  portion  with  an  uneven  margin  above  which  jirojects 
the  pale  yellow  capillitium  ;  stipe  short,  oran<;e,  or  brownish  red, 
arising;  from  a  small  hyj)othallus ;  capillitium  dense,  yellow,  the 
nodules  not  large,  irregular,  tending  to  form  a  pseudo-columella 
in  the  centre  of  the  cup  ;  spores  minutely  warted,  violaceous 
brown,  8-io  /x. 

I'^ries  regards  this,  which  he  names  C.  vnitabilc,  the  most  dis- 
tinctly marked  species  of  the  genus ;  chiefly,  as  it  appears,  on 
account  of  the  bright  yellow  color.  This,  however,  varies. 
Some  specimens  before  us  are  gray,  showing  only  a  trace  of 
yellow  below.  In  some  ICuropean  specimens  a  reddish  tinge 
prevails.  The  form  of  the  sporangium  also  varies.  In  typical 
specimens,  uno))encd,  the  shape  is  almost  ])yriform  ;  opened, 
we  have  a  cylindric,  oftenest  lemon  yellow  vase,  mounted  on  a 
short  striate  stalk,  liut  again,  from  the  same  plasmodium,  we 
may  have  globose  sporangia,  opening  so  as  to  leave  only  a 
shallow,  salver-shaped  base.  In  this  case  the  stipe  is  also 
longer.  The  plasmodium  is  said  to  be  "  clear  lemon  yellow  " 
(Massee). 

There  seems  little  doubt  that  Schumacher  had  in  mind  the 
present  sjiecies  in  his  TricJiia  aitira.  Rostafinski  shows  that 
Fries's  synonym  {C.  mhiabi/c)  is  founded  on  a  mistake.  The 
earlier  specific  name  is  therefore  on  Rostafinski's  authority 
adopted. 

Not  common.  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina, 
Ohio,  Iowa. 

2.    Ckaterium  mavdis  Morgan. 

PiAiK  III.,  Figs.  6,  6  a. 

1S96.     CratcriuDi  inaydis  '\\^^x^■^x\.  Jour .  Ciu.  Soc,  p.  87. 
189S.     rhysiiniin  auriscalpiuin  Ci<e.,  Lister,  Jour,  of  Botany,  X.X.WI., 
p.  115,  (in  part). 


CRATERIUM 


n 


Sporangia  scattered,  globose  or  obovnid,  yellow,  stipitalc ; 
peridium  above,  thin,  membranous,  fragile,  covered  with  largo 
thick  scales  and  nodules  of  lime,  which  are  and)er  colored  or 
golden  yellow,  below  thicker,  persistent,  naked,  plicatuhite  red 
brown;  stij)e  red  brown,  slender,  long,  plicate,  rising  from  a 
small  hy]K)thallus ;  capillitium  of  thick  tubules  forming  a  net- 
work with  wide  nodes  ;  the  nodules  of  lime  large,  numerous, 
yellow,  lobate  or  branched;  spores  i)ale  violaceous,  minutely 
wart''d,  9-10  /i.. 

"Growing  on  old  stalks  of  Zca  mays.  Sporangium  with  the 
stalk  I- 1. 5  mm.  in  height  and  0.4-0.6  mm.  in  diameter,  the  stipe 
always  longer  than  the  sporangium,  I  find  it  in  abundance  on 
old  stalks  of  Indian  corn,  but  never  on  anything  else."  — 
Morgan,  I.e. 

A  small  delicate  species,  referable  with  almost  ecpial  pro- 
priety to  Cratcrinvi  or  Physarnvi.  In  the  most  perfect  speci- 
mens the  calv.x  is  low-vasiform,  about  one-third  the  sporangium, 
smooth,  or  lightly  plicate  and  plainly  differentiated  from  dome- 
like upper  peridium.  In  other  cases  the  basal  membrane  is  but 
slightly  developed.  These  characters  with  its  peculiar  slender 
habit  readily  distinguish  this  form  from  Physarum  aiiriscalpiiim. 
It  resembles  C.  ainrum  in  color  somewhat,  but  is  more  globose 
and  has  a  much  longer  stipe.  From  its  peculiar  habitat  it 
should  be  widely  distributed,  but  so  far  hr.s  been  reported  from 
Ohio  only. 


»    • 


iM 


3.   Craterium  rubescens  Rcx. 

1S93.     Craterium  rubescens  Re.x,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  370. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  cylindrical  or  elongate  cyathiform,  .stipi- 
tate,  dark  violet  red,  the  apex  slightly  roughed  by  pale  calca- 
reous granules,  the  peridium  longitudinally  wrinkled  below; 
dehiscence,  irregulr.rly  circumscissile  ;  stij)e  darker,  one-half  the 
height  of  the  sporangium,  longitudinally  wrinkled  ;  capillitium 
dense,  abundantly  calcareous ;  spores  violet  brown,  minutely 
roughened,  7-8  /a. 

In  form  resembling  the  preceding  species,  but  instantly  dis- 


7^^ 


THE  NORTH  AM  URIC  AX   SLIME  MOLLDS 


sit 


I! 


,   I 


tin^uishcd  by  the  colfir,  which  is  red  throuf;hoiit,  tiii^^ed  with 
jnirple  or  violet.  The  capillitiiini  is  B(uiltaviiii-X\\\\i,  as  noted  by 
\)\\  Ke.\.  Very  distinct  from  P,  iicwloni  in  color,  form,  habit, 
epispore,  etc. 

All  the  specimens  seen  so  far  arc  from  one  gathering, 
Louisiana  (A.  H.  Langlois). 

4.    Ckatf.kilm  LKUCocEPiiALUM  (Pcrs.)  Dit)nar. 

PlATI.  VIII.,   li^'.   5. 

1791.  Stcmouitis  kucoccpluila  Pcrsoon.  (Iniclin.  Syst.  A'at.,  II.,  p.  1467. 

I  (So  I.  .Inyria.'  Iciicoa'phaht  IVtsooii,  Syn.  J-'tniff.,  p.  rSj. 

i(Soi.     Criiteriiini .'  lciiitht'f>/iitluhi,  I'ersoon.  Syn.  I-'iiii<^.,  \).  i(S4. 

iS!3.     Cratcriiiin  Iciicoccphalidn  (I'crs.)  iJitmar..  Sturm. /Av/Z-ft//.  Flora., 

J'ihi\  p.  21.  I'l.  II. 

1889.  rhysunim  siyplioidcs  Ckc.  and  I3alf.,  Massee.  Jour.  Myc,  V\, 
-i.  1 86.  (?) 

1896.     Crateriti/n  com'tvaic  (Batscli)  Morgan, /<>///•.  C/)i.  Soc,  p.  86. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  short  cylindric  or  ovate,  pure  white 
above,  brown  or  reddish  brown  below,  stipitatc,  dehiscence 
irregularly  circumscissile,  the  persistent  portion  of  the  pcrid- 
ium  beaker-shaped ;  stipe  short,  stout,  expanded  above  into 
the  base  of  the  peridium  with  which  it  is  concolorous ;  hypo- 
thallus  scant ;  capillitium  white  or  sometimes,  toward  the  centre, 
brownish,  the  calcareous  nodules  large,  conspicuous,  and  per- 
sistent ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  violaceous  brown,  minutely 
spinulose,  89  /x. 

Distinguished  by  its  white  cap  from  all  except  the  next,  from 
which  the  markedly  different  form  serves  as  the  diagnostic 
feature.  In  some  gatherings,  curious  patches  of  yellow  mark  the 
otherwise  snow  white  ca])  and  sides ;  these  are  mere  stains, 
sometimes  delinite,  crystalline,  flake-like  bodies,  standing  out  in 
plain  relict  on  the  sporangial  wall,  or  lurking  in  the  larger  nod- 
ules which  are  massed  along  the  axis  of  the  cup  to  form  the 
pseudo-columella,  here  strongly  developed.  Mr.  Lister  calls 
attention  to  these  yellow  flakes,  and  regards  them  as  diagnostic. 

The  nomenclature  question  is  here  somewhat  difficult.  Fries 
heads    his    list    of    s}'nonyms    with    J\-cirja   cotivivalis    Batsch. 


t 
a 


''/t  1 


C RATER  If. \r 


77 


l^atsch  simply  described  Micheli's  fi-ure  !  Now  there  is  nothin;,^ 
in  Miclieli's  fij^ure  ( IM.  86,  Fii;.  14)  to  enable  one  to  say  with 
certainty  which  Ciafiriinii  Micheli  Iiad  in  mind,  it  Cnitiriuui  at 
all.  Nor  does  liatsch  help  the  matter  when  he  offers  the  tU-- 
scription  followin^,^:  "Stipitate;  acute  conica,  patens;  stiinle 
siibdistincto,  lineari,  brevi,  valido.  AHucatis.  In  foliis  Jiciicrac 
pntritlis."  {lilciic/iiis  Fitih:;ont)n,  Batsch,  i7S3,p.  121.)  There  is 
nothing;  dehnitive  here  but  the  one  word  "  ;'lbicans  "  cpioled  from 
Micheli.  lUit  this  term  is  applicable  the  rather  to  C.  Diiiiiifinn, 
the  cups  of  which  whiten  with  weatherini;.  It  may  be,  as  in- 
sisted by  Fries  {Sj'st.  Mj'c,  III.,  p.  149),  that  Micheli  drew  Cra- 
teriums ;  but  if  so,  wc  cannot  determine  which  sjiecies. 

The  specific  name  here  adopted  was  api)lied  by  I'ersoon 
probably  to  this  form,  but  Persoon  likewise  failed  to  distin<;uish 
the  present  species  from  C.  viiniitnui  (see  Syii.  I'/iiij^.,  pp.  183, 
1.S4),  and  Fries,  op.  cit.,  p.  153.  Ditmar,  I.e.,  leaves  no  doubt 
as  to  what  he  figures  and  describes,  and  accordingly  the  name 
he  first  correctly  uses  is  here  adopted. 

Not  common.  New  England,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  North 
Carolina,  Iowa. 


A 


.^ 


ely 


5.    Ckaterium  minimum  Berkeley  and  Curtis. 

Pi.ATK  XVI.,  Fif,'.  6. 

1873.     Crateriiim  minimum  Berk.  .tikI  Curt.,  Grei'.,  il.,  p.  67. 

1892.     Crateriiim  cylindriciim  Massoe  Moii.,  j).  26S. 

1S94.     Crateriiim  leucocephalum  Uitni..  Lister,  Myc,  p.  72.  (in  part). 

Sporangia  closely  gregarious,  very  small,  slender  cylindric, 
almost  entirely  white,  stipitate,  the  peridium  delicate,  transpar- 
ent although  calcareous  nearly  to  the  ba.se,  opening  by  a  dehis- 
cence regularly  circumscissile  ;  sti[)e  short,  about  one-third  the 
total  height,  clear  orange  brown,  somewhat  furrowed,  rising 
from  an  indistinct  hypothallus ;  capillitium  very  lax,  physaroid, 
the  calcareous  nodules  large,  rounded,  pure  white,  aggregated 
at  the  centre  of  the  cup ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  minutely 
roughened,  violaceous  brown,  8-9  y^. 


78 


THE  XORTH  AMERICAN  SI.IME  MUCI.PS 


Tliis  is  the  common  form  in  tiic  United  States.  Massee 
describes  it  as  C.  ty/iiniricinii  Mass.,  and  it  seems  not  to  occur 
in  l'",urn])e.  Lister  has  put  it  in  with  C.  IcucoccplwlHm^  from 
which  its  more  delicate  structure  and  elej^rmt  cylindrical  shape 
certainly  distinguish  it.  The  dehiscence  is  even  more  rej;ular 
than  in  the  precedinj^j  species  and  approaches  that  of  C.  miuii- 
til  III  Leers.,  with  bleached  forms  of  which  it  must  not  be  con- 
fused.    lY.  A.  F.,  1400. 

New  ICnulanci  to  Iowa  and  south. 


i 


mi 

1) 


'I 

in 


y 


I 

t 


6.  Cratkkium  concinnum  Rcx. 

1893.     Cratcriuin  lOinintium  Kcx,  /'roc.  /'Jtila.  Acnti.,  p.  370. 

Sporanj^^ia  scattered,  usually  minute,  broadly  funnel  shaped, 
stipitate.  The  peridium  simple,  variously  colored  by  innate 
lime  ^aanules,  opening  by  a  re<.,ailar  cap  or  operculum,  brownish 
white,  darkest  in  the  centre,  always  more  or  less  convex ;  stij)e 
equallinj;  the  cup  in  height,  dark  brown,  longitudinally  ridged  ; 
the  capillitium  a  close-meshed  network,  with  small  rounded  or 
slightly  angular  masses  of  ochre  brown  lime  granules,  larger 
toward  the  centre;  spores  pale  brown,  minutely  warted,  9-10  jx. 

This  species  differs  from  the  following,  to  which  it  seems 
most  nearly  allied  in  form,  color,  as  in  the  capillitium,  and  color 
of  the  spores.  In  habitat  as  well,  it  seems  no  less  distinct, 
being  found  always  (.'')  on  the  spines  of  decaying  chestnut  burs 
lying  on  the  ground,  and  in  company  with  that  other  peculiar 
species,  LacJuiolwlus  globosus. 

The  range  is  probably  that  of  the  chestnut,  Castanca  sativa 
Mill,  var.  aincricana,  east  of  the  Mississippi  River. 

7.  Craterium  minutum  {Leers)  Fries. 

Pl.ATK  XV.,  Fig.  5. 

1775.  Pczisa  iiiinuta  Leers.  Fl.  Hcrbonu  p.  277. 

1797.  Craterium  pcdimcitlatum  Trentcpohl,  Roth,  Catal.  Bot.,  p.  224. 

1813.  Craterium  vuli^are  Diimar,  Sturm,  Dcutsch.  l-'l.  i'i'  e.  p.  17. 

1829.  Craterium pedunculatum  Trent..  Fries,  Syst.  Mye.,  III.,  p.  150. 

1829.  Craterium  minutiim  Leers,  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  IIL,  p.  151. 


C/F.Xh'OU-SKfA 


70 


1.S92.     Crat'ti 


>iiini  con 
1.S93.     L'riUcrium  pcdtincuL 


fiisiini  Massc'f.  .Ui>n..  p.  2^>i.  (in  part"). 


'?4- 

[50. 


///////  'I'lX'iU.,  Machiiile,  /iu//.  Lab.  Xtit.  J  list. 
1894.     Cratcritim  pedum  uldtnm  Trent.,  Lifter,  Mycetozoiu  p.  70. 


/(>:i'(/.  II.,  p.  3S5. 


Sponinj^ia  scattered,  j^re.L;:irious,  cyathiform  or  turbinate,  j^Tay- 
ish  l)r()\vn,  stii)itate,  the  peridial  wall  rather  thick,  double,  opeti- 
'\\v^  by  a  distinct  lid  which  lies  usually  below  the  sliL;htly 
thickened  and  everted  niar;;in  of  the  cup  ;  stipe  paler,  trans- 
lucent, about  ecjuallin-;  in  heij;ht  the  periilial  cup,  lonj^itudinally 
wrinkled,  with  hypothallus  scant  or  none  ;  cajMllitiuni  physaroid, 
the  calcareous  nodules  larf^e,  white,  and  fjenerally  a^,i;re;;ated 
at  the  centre  of  the  cup  ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  by  trans- 
mitted li^dit  violaceous,  minutely  warted,  8-10  /x. 

This  is  the  most  hi^dily  differentiated  of  the  whole  series. 
The  cup  is  shajjely  and  well  defined,  while  the  lid  is  not  only 
distinct,  but  is  a  thin,  delicate  membrane  of  slij^hlly  different 
structure  when  compared  with  the  peridial  wall.  It  is  in  all 
the  specimens  before  me  much  depressed  below  the  mouth  of 
the  sporangium,  and  the  whole  structure  in  our  specimens 
corresponds  with  Fries's  description  of  C.  fcdttiiciihitinu  Trent., 
while  specimens  received  from  luirope  correspond  to  I'ries's 
account  of  C.  mimitnm  Leers.  Nevertheless  we  are  assured 
that  the  two  forms  are  in  Europe  develojK'd  from  the  same 
Plasmodium,  and  therefore  adopt  the  earlier  specific  name  as 
above.  N.  A.  F.,  2500.  This  is  probably  Jw/>.'ifi>iJis  co>iri::i/is 
of  Batsch  and  Micheli. 

Common  throughout  the  eastern  United  States,  west  to  Iowa 
and  south  to  Louisiana. 

7.   Cienkowskia  Rostnfmski. 

1873.     Ciciikinvskia  Ko'AiAfin^ku  I'l-rs/n/i,  p.  <). 

Fructification  plasmodiocarjious,  irregularly  dehiscent,  the 
wall  a  thin  cartilaginous  membrane  destitute  of  lime,  except  the 
capillitial  attachments  within ;  cajMllitium  scanty  but  rigid,  and 
characterized  everywhere  by  i)eculiar  hook-lil.e  brancalets,  free 
and  sharp-pointed.     The  spores  as  in  PiiysanDti,  etc. 


All 


j!. 


80  THE  XORTH  AM  ERIC  AX  SUM  E  MOULDS 

The  genus  contains,  so  lar,  bul  a  single  species  :  — 

I.     ClliNKOWSKIA    KICTICULATA    {Alb.  (\ud  Scll'V.)  Rost. 
I'l.ATK    \I\'.,    l'i^,'S.    2,    2  (J,    2/'. 

1805.     J'/iy.uirn»t  ritii iildtiim  All),  and  Sclnv.,  Cons.  Eitiii^..  p.  90. 

1829.     Didi'nna  rctiiulation  Fries,  Syst.  J/i< .,  III.,  j).  112. 

1S73.     Cicniunvikia  rdkulatu  (All),  ami  Sclnv.)  Kost.,  I'crsiuh,  p.  g. 

Plasmodiorarp  an  elongated,  irregularly  limited,  clo.se-meshed 
net,  closely  applied  to  the  substratum,  the  wall  thin,  transversely 
rcgulose,  and  roughened,  dull  orange  yellow  splashed  here  and 
there  with  scarlet,  within  marked  by  transverse  calcareous 
ridges,  sujiporting  in  part  the  calcareous  system  of  the  capil- 
litium  ;  capillitium  of  delicate,  rigid,  reticulating  yellow  tubules 
or  threads  with  numerous  free,  uncinate  or  sickle-shaped  branch- 
lets,  and  large,  irregular,  calcareous  plates,  more  or  less  trans- 
verse to  the  axis  of  the  sporangium  attached  to  the  peridial 
walls,  as  if  to  form  septa,  ordinary  calcareous  nodules  few ; 
spore-mass  jet-black,  spores,  by  transmitted  light,  violaceous, 
minutely  roughened,  9-10  ft. 

A  very  rare  species,  as  it  appears,  easily  recognized  by  the 
Coddington  even,  much  more  by  the  microscopic  characters 
quoted ;  probably  often  overlooked  by  the  collector,  as  to  the 
naked  eye  it  presents  the  appearance  of  some  imperfectly 
developed,  dried-up  plasmodium.  Very  unlike  Physanim  scrpula 
Morgan,  not  infrequently  offered  by  collectors  as  Cictikoicskia. 
It  is  Didcnmi  rcticulatuui  of  Fries,  who,  strangely  enough, 
thought  it  might  be  a  plasmodial  phase  of  Didcrma  (i.e.  Lco- 
caypHS)  vcniicosuni  {Syst.  JMyc,  III.,  p.  102). 


; 


ii'i 


:  1 


8.     Leocarpus  {Link)  Rost. 

1809.     Leocarpus  Link,  D/ss.,  I.,  p.  25. 

Sporangia  sessile,  or  short  stipitate ;  peridial  wall  double,  the 
outer  thick,  destitute  of  lime,  polished,  shining  within  and  with- 
out, the  inner  very  delicate,  enclosing  the  capillitium  and  spores ; 
capillitium  of  two,  more  or  less,  distinct  systems,  the  one  a  deli- 
cate network  of  hyaline,  limeless  threads,  the  other  calcareous 


/.!  ' 


<i  I 


u:oc.iKrrs 


Si 


throu;;hnut,  or  nearly  so,  the  meshes  ]:ir;;e  and  the  tlireads  or 
tubules  broad;  columella  n(;ne,  althou;^di  a  jjseuilo-ohunella 
may  sometimes  be  detected. 

This  genus  was  by  Link  established  on  characters  purely 
external,  and  these  are  perhaps  sullficient  to  distinguish  it  yet. 
Rostafmski  supplemented  Link's  definition  by  calling  attention 
to  the  peculiar  character  of  the  Capilliliuni  and  to  niicrosc<)|)ic 
characters  in  general.  The  outer  peridium  is  very  thick  and 
strong,  unlike  any  similar  structure  in  the  group.  I'liysaniin 
citrinclliiui  I'k.  approaches  Lcocarpus  in  its  double  peridium,  but 
the  outer  wall  is  different,  to  say  nothing  of  the  capillitium.  In 
dehiscence  and  structure  there  is  also  .some  resemblance  to  some 
species  of  Didcrmix,  and  by  Persoon  and  Fries  it  was  so  referred, 
but  the  capillitium  is  again  definitive. 


s\ 


,lll 


I.    Leocarpus  fragilis  {Dickson)  Rost. 

ri.ATi-,  VIII.,  l'i;,'s.  3,  3rt,  lb. 

1785.  Lycoperdon  /rai:;ili:  Dickson,  Juisc.  J'l.  Crypt.  Rrit.,  I.,  p.  25. 

1795.  DidcfDui  vcrnicositm  Puisoon.  L'st.  .litii.  Hot,.  XV'.,  p.  34. 

1809.  Lcocarpus  vcnticosus  Link.  Diss.,  I.,  p.  25. 

1875.  Leocarpiis  frai^ilis  (Dicks.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  132. 

Sporangia  gregarious  or  clustered,  sessile  or  stipitate,  obo- 
void,  rusty  or  spadiceous  yellow,  shining ;  peridium  opening  at 
maturity  in  somewhat  stellate  fashion;  sti])e  fdiform,  while  or 
yellow,  weak  and  short;  spores  dull  black,  spinulose,  .012  -.014 /i. 

A  common  species,  distributed  through  all  the  world,  Iowa  to 
Tasmania.  Recognizable  at  sight  by  the  form  and  color  of  the 
sporangia.  In  shape  and  posture  these  resemble  the  eggs  of 
certain  insects,  and,  occurring  upon  dead  leaves,  generally 
where  these  have  drifted  against  a  rotten  log,  they  might  i)er- 
chance  be  mistaken  for  such  structures.  With  no  oth  iv  Slimc- 
mould  are  they  likely  to  be  confused.  The  outer  peridium 
opens  irregularly  or  more  rarely  stellately.  At  centre  of  the 
capillitium  is  a  calcareous  core.  The  plasmodium  is  yellowish 
white,  spread  in  rich  and  beautiful  reticulations.  N.  A.  F., 
1123. 

Q 


82 


THE  XORTIl  AMF.A'/C.LV  S/./.]//-:-.]/()f7./>S 


f,  n 


m 


2.    Leocaki'US  fulvus  AAu/'f.  n.  s. 

I'l  All.  WI.,   1  i),'.H.  4,  4  (». 

Sjxiranj^ia  f^rc^'arious,  scattered,  ovoid  or  f;lobo.se,  pale  yel- 
lowish or  fulvous,  opening  irre^adarly  above,  stipitate ;  the 
peridium  double,  the  outer  layer  more  or  less  calcareous,  the 
inner  delicate,  almost  indistin;;uishable,  persistent  below  as  a 
shallow  cup ;  the  stipe  lonj^,  weak,  striate,  I'ulvous;  hypothallus 
distinct,  venulose,  or  more  or  less  continuous;  capillilium  jiallid 
or  white,  dense,  with  here  and  there  rather  lartje,  yellow  calca- 
reous nodes ;  columella  none ;  spore-mass  black ;  spijres  by 
transmitted  li.i;ht,  dark  brown,  rou^di,  13-15  /a. 

This  interestinfj  form  is  from  Colorado,  and  su^^^^ested  at  first 
a  J)i(icniia ;  but  the  capillitium  is  entirely  unlike  that  of  a 
DidvruHi  in  color  and  structure,  and  plainly  belongs  here. 
Plasmodium  yellow,  on  fallen  leaves  and  twigs.  Our  material  is 
from  Mr.  E.  Bethel,  Denver, 


/?.    DIDYMIE/E. 


Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Didymieae. 


}^ 


\y 


I.   Ml'CILACO 


A.   Fructification  athalioid 

/>'.   Fructiticiition  in  form  of  distinct  sporanfjia. 

a.  Calcareous   deposits   in   form   of    stellate   crystals,    frosting   the 

surface 2.  Dn)V.MU'.M 

b.  Calcareous  deposits  forminc;  a  superficial  crust  3.  Dm)EKMA 

c.  Calcareous  deposits  in  the  form  of  large  superficial  scales 

4.  Leimdodek.ma 

1.   Mucilago  {Mich.^  Adans. 

1729.     I\Iitcilas;o  Micheli,  Nirv.  PI.  Gen.  (in  part). 

1763.     Minildi^t)  (Mich.).  Adanson,  Fai/i.  dcs  PI.,  II.,  p.  7. 

1791.     Spiiiiiaria  I'ers.  in  (Imolin,  Hyst.  Xat.,  II.,  p.  1466. 

Fructification  ac^thaliold,  consisting  generally  of  large  cushion- 
shaped  masses  covered  without  by  a  white  foam-like  crust ; 
within,  composed  of  numerous  tubular  sporangia,  developed 
from  a  common  hypothallus,  irregularly  branched,  contorted 
and   more  or  less   confluent ;  the  peridial  wall  thin,  delicate, 


I 


AfCXII.AuO 


83 


frosted  with  stellate  lime  crystals,  which  ni:irk  in  section  the 
boundaries  of  the  several  si)(>ran;;ia ;  capilliliuni  of  delicate 
threads  •generally  only  sli;;htly  hrancheil,  terminating^  in  the 
sporan^nal  wall,  marked  with  occasional  swellinj^sor  thickenin^^s. 
\\y  ihe  descriptions  offered  by  most  authors,  and  especially 
by  Rostafmski's  tij;ure.s  (Mini.,  IM.  ix.),  a  pronounced  columella 
is  called  for  in  the  structure  of  S/^Niitiirin.  The  individual 
sporan^da  rise  from  a  connnon  hypothallus,  and  occasionally 
portions  of  this  run  up  and  j;ive  to  a  sporani;ium  the  a|)pear- 
ance  of  bein^^  stipitate.  Sometimes  also  this  upper  extension 
of  the  hypothalline  i)rotoplasm  passes  beyond  or  behind  the 
base  of  the  sporanfjium  or  between  two  or  more,  and  is  more 
or  less  embraced  by  these  in  their  confluent  flexures.  This, 
it  seems,  su};^^ested  Kostafinski's  elaborate  diaj^ram,  Fij;.  158; 
at  least,  none  other  form  of  columella  is  shown  by  American 
materials  at  hand. 


r 


N  ki 


W- 


( > 


I.     MUCILAGO   SPONGIOSA  (ZrjW.)  ^^<'^^^«- 

17S3.  Minor  spoii^iosus  Leysser.  FJ.  ffal.,  p.  305. 

1 791.  Rcticularia  alba  lUilliaid.  C.  Fl.  l-'ramw  p.  92. 

1791.  Spumaria  mucilaf^o  I'eisoon,  (imcl.,  Syst.  Xat.,  II.,  p.  1466. 

1805.  Spumaria  alba  (liull.)  DC,  /•'/.  /•>-.,  11..  j).  261. 

1897.  Mncila\^o  spongiosa  (Lcy.ss.)  Morgan,  Bot.  Gaz.,  .W'lV.,  p.  56. 

/Ethalium  white  or  cream  colored,  of  variable  size  and  shape, 
half  an  inch  to  three  inches  in  length  and  half  as  thick,  the 
component  sporangia  resting  upon  a  common  hypothallus  and 
protected  by  a  more  or  less  deciduous  calcareous  porous  cortex ; 
peridial  walls  thin,  and  where  exposed  iridescent,  generally 
whitened  by  a  thin  coating  of  lime  crystals ;  capillitium  scanty, 
of  simple,  mostly  dark-colored,  slightly  anastomosing  threads ; 
columella  indefinite  or  none  ;  hypothallus  white,  spongy;  spore- 
mass  black,  spores  violaceous,  exceedingly  rough,  large,  10-15  /x. 

Very  common  in  all  the  eastern  United  States  and  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  south  to  Texas.  The  plasmodium  is  dull 
white,  of  the  consistence  of  cream,  and  is  often  met  with  in 
quantity  on  beds  of  decaying  leaves  in  the  woods.     In  fruit- 


84 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


ing  the  plasmodium  ascends  preferably  living  stems  of  small 
bushes,  herbaceous  plants,  or  grasses,  and  forms  the  :cthalium 
around  the  stem  some  distance  above  the  ground.  The  cortex 
varies  in  amount,  is  also  deciduous,  so  that  weathered  or  im])er- 
fectly  developed  forms  probably  represent  the  var.  conuita^  S. 
cornuta  Schum. 


2.   Didymium  {Schmd)  Fr. 

1797.     Didyniiuvi  Schrad.,  A'ov.  Gen.  I'ltiiit.,  p.  20  (in  part). 
1829.     Didyiniiiiii  (Schrad.)  Fries,  .SV.r/.  Myc,  III.,  p.  113. 
1875.     Didyiniiiin  (Schrad.)  DcDy.,  Rost.,  I'crsiic/i,  p.  13. 

Sporangia  distinct,  stipitate,  sessile  or  even  plasmodio- 
carpous,  never  xthalioid  ;  the  peridium  thin,  irregular  in  dehis- 
cence, covered  with  a  more  or  less  dense  coating  of  calcareous 
crystals ;  columella  more  frequently  present ;  capillitium  of 
delicate  threads,  simple  or  sparingly  branched,  extending  from 
the  columella  to  the  pv„ridial  wall. 

The  genus  Didymhun,  as  set  up  by  Schrader  I.e.,  included 
a  number  of  species  now  assigned  to  Didcrnia.  For  the 
present  limitations  we  are  indebted  to  Fries  and  DeBary. 

The  genus  is  among  Myxomycetes  instantly  recognized  by 
the  peculiar  form  of  its  calcareous  deposits,  stellate  crystals 
frosting  usually  distinct  sporangia. 


■|   i; 


I.  D.  complanatum 
2.  D.  arelliis 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Didymium. 

A.   Fructification  plasmodiocarpous. 

a.  CapilHtiuni  with  adherent  vesicles 

b.  Capillitium  .simple 

23.    Fructification  normally  distinct. 

a.  Sporangia  sessile  or  nearly  so ;  outer  calcareous  wall  conspicuously 

developed  .         .        .         .         .         .  3.  Z^.  crtistaccum 

b.  Sporangia  plainly  stipitate. 

i.  Peridium  much  depressed ;  umbilicate  below. 

*  Stipe  white 4.  Z?.  squaviulosum 

**  Stipe  black. 

f  Small,  about  .5  mm 6.  Z7.  minus 

ft  Larger,  about  .75-1  mm.          .           5.  Z?.  tnclanospcrmiiin 
ftt  Sporangia  discoid "].  D.  clavtis 


DIDYMIUM 


85 


ii.  I'cridium  small.  ^IdIjosc. 

*  Stipe  ihirk  biDwii  or  black: 

Columella  (lark,  obsolete  or  none  .        8.  />.  ntj^n'pt's 

**  Stijjc  generally  p  iler,  of  various  tints  of  brown,  orange, 

etc. 

f  Columella,  yellow,  discoid,  rough      .         .     lo.  I),  cximiutn 

ft  Columella  pale  or  white,  nearly  smooth,      9.  D.  xanthopiis 

1.  DiDVMIUM    COMPLANATUM  (^rr/jf//)  AVi-/. 

I'l.ATK  XVI.,   Fii;.  S. 

1786.     Lycopcrdon  complaiuUun:  ISatsch.  l-'.lciuh.  Fuh'^..  I.,  p.  251. 

1S29.     Didyiiiiidii  scrpulii  Fries,  Syst.  J/n ..  III..  ]>.  126.  Rost.,  .Ipp.,  p.  21. 

1875.     DiiiyiiiiuDi  coniplanatuin  (Ikitscli),  Rost.,  Moii.,  p.  151. 

Fructification  pla.smodiocarpous,  creeping,  flattened,  vein-like, 
annulate  or  reticulate,  the  dark-colored  peridiuni  covered  with 
gray,  but  not  numerous  crystals;  hypothallus  none;  columella 
none ;  capillitiuni  much  branched,  violaceous  threads  combined 
to  form  a  rather  dense  net  which  bears  numerous,  peculiar 
rounded  vesicles,  yellowish  in  color,  30-50  \x  in  diameter ; 
spores  minutely  warted,  7-9  /*,  violaceous  brown. 

The  defining  characteristics  here  are  the  curious  supplement- 
ary vesicles.  Rostafinski,  Man.  tab.,  IX.,  Figs.  166  and  iSo,  has 
clearly  shown  the  structure,  although  in  the  explanation  of  the 
plate  he  has  strangely  mixed  this  species  with  D.  cnistacciim  Fr. 
Under  D.  scrpu  'a  Fries  may  refer  to  the  present  species, 
although  there  is  nothing  in  his  description  to  determine  the 
fact.  The  same  thing  may  be  said  of  the  description  and 
figures  of  Batsch.  Rostafinski,  in  the  Monograph,  seems  to 
have  been  satisfied  as  to  the  identity  of  Batsch's  materials ;  in 
tlie  Appendix,  he  writes  I),  scrpula,  but  gives  no  reason. 

Rare.     New  York.     Reported  also  by  Massee  and  Liister. 

2.  DiDYMiUM  ANELLUS  Morgan. 

I'LAIK  XVI.,  Fig.   7. 

1894.     Didyminm  ancllus  Morgan,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  64. 

Plasmodiocarp  in  small  rings  or  links,  then  confluent  and 
elongated,  irregularly  connected  together,  bent   and    flexuous, 


t  t 


86 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLL\fE-MOULDS 


:  li!  i' 


'  1      ! 


restinj^  on  a  thin  vcnulose  hypothallus,  or  sometimes  fjlobosc, 
the  pcriclium  dark  colored,  with  a  thin  layer  of  stellate  crystals, 
irrej^ularly  ruptured  ;  capillitium  of  slender,  dark-colored  threads, 
which  extend  from  base  to  wall,  more  or  less  branched,  and 
combined  into  a  loose  net ;  columella  a  thin  layer  of  brown 
scales ;  spores  globose,  very  minutely  warted,  violaceous,  8-9  fi. 
This  minute  species  is  reported,  so  far,  from  Ohio  only.  It 
resembles  a  poorly  developed,  or  sessile,  phase  of  D.  niclano- 
spcnninit.  Some  of  the  sporangia  (?)  are  spherical,  and  certainly 
show  a  short  brown  stalk.  The  columella  is  scant,  and  the 
spores  are  smaller  than  those  of  D.  viclanospcrmuvi. 

3.     UlDVMIUM    CRUSTACEUM    FncS. 

1829.     Didymiiitn  crust accum  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  124. 

Sporangia  closely  aggregated,  globose,  or  by  compression  de- 
formed, sessile,  snow  white,  by  virtue  of  the  remarkably  devel- 
oped crust  of  calcareous  crystals  by  which  each  sporangium  is 
surrounded  as  in  Diderma ;  the  peridium  membranous,  color- 
less, frosted  with  large  stellate  crystals,  usually  shrunken  above 
and  depressed ;  columella  pale,  small,  or  obsolete ;  hypothallus 
scant  or  not  continuous ;  capillitium  01  rather  stout  violaceous 
threads  seldom  branched  except  at  the  tips,  where  they  are 
pale  and  often  bifid,  or  more  than  once  dichotomously  divided ; 
spores  strongly  warted,  globose,  violet  brown,  10-13  /*• 

This  species  has  all  the  outward  seeming  of  a  Didcrvia,  but 
cannot  be  referred  to  that  genus  because  of  the  crystalline 
character  of  its  crust.  This  is  a  very  marked  structure,  loosely 
built  up  of  very  large  crystals  ;  it  is  necessarily  extremely  frail, 
nevertheless  persists  arching  over  at  a  considerable  distance 
above  the  peridium  proper. 

The  sporangia  are  said  to  be  sometimes  stipitate.  This  fea- 
ture does  not  appear  in  any  of  the  material  before  me.  Lister 
in  Mjcctoz:.  a  PI.  XL.,  c.  draws  the  capillitium  much  more  deli- 
cate than  it  appears  in  our  specimens.  The  hypothallus  is 
sometimes  noticeable  under  some  of  the  sporangia  where 
closely  crowded,  but  is  not  a  constant  feature. 


..)i 


I  n 


,  »' 


DIDYMIUM 


S7 


Rostafinski  (by  typographical  error  ?)  confused  in  the  Mono- 
graph, pp.  164,  165,  this  species  with  Persoon's  Pliysarum  conjht- 
cns.  In  the  Appendix  he  substitutes  the  Friesian  nomenclature. 
Persoon's  description  of  his  species  is  insufficient,  and  throws 
no  Hght  on  the  pioblem  whatever. 

Rare.     Iowa  ;   Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

4,    DlDVMFUM   SQUAMULOSUM   {Alb.  iiud  Sc/r<>.>.)  FHcs. 

1805.  Didcrina  squamulosiuii  Alb.  and.  Sclnv..  Con.sp.  Fuiii^..  p.  88. 

18 16.  Diiiyininin  effnsum  Link,  Diss.,  II..  p.  42. 

1829.  Didyi/iiinn  sqnaniulosit»i  (Alb.  and  Stluv.),  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III., 
p.  118. 

1875.  Didymium  effusum  (Link)  Rost..  Moii.,  p.  163. 

1894.  Didymium  cj/'usnm  (Link)  Lister.  Myccto~AHu  p.  99. 

Sporangia,  in  typical  forms,  gregarious,  globose  or  depressed 
globose,  gray  or  snow  white,  stipitate ;  the  peridium  a  thin 
iridescent  membrane  covered  more  or  less  richly  with  minute 
crystals  of  lime  ;  the  stipe  when  present,  snow  white,  fluted  or 
channelled,  stout,  even  ;  columella  white,  consjiicuous  ;  hypothal- 
lus  small  or  obsolete ;  capillitium  of  delicate  branching  threads, 
usually  colorless  or  pallid,  sometimes  with  conspicuous  calci- 
form  thickenings  ;  spores  violaceous,  minutely  warted  or  spinu- 
lose,  8-10  /Li. 

This,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  species  in  the  whole  series,  is 
remarkable  for  the  v?riations  which  it  presents  in  the  fruiting 
phase.  These  range  ali  the  way  from  the  simplest  and  j)lainest 
kind  of  a  plasmodiocarp  with  only  the  most  delicate  frosting  of 
calcarec^us  crystals  up  through  more  or  less  confluent  sessile  spo- 
rangia to  well-defined  elegantly  stijiitate,  globose  fruits,  where  the 
lime  is  sometimes  so  abundant  as  to  form  deciduous  flaky  scales. 
The  hypothallus,  sometimes  entirely  wanting,  is  sometimes  well 
developed,  even  continuous,  venulose,  from  stipe  to  stipe.  The 
capillitium  varies  much  in  abundance  as  in  color ;  when  scanty, 
it  is  colorless  and  in  every  way  more  delicate,  when  abundant, 
darker  in  color  and  sometimes  wii'u  atiOnger  thickenings. 

D.  fitckclianum  Rost.,  as  shown  in  N.  A.  F.,  2090,  and  in 
some  private  collections,  seems  to  be  a  rather  stout  phase  of  the 


iF 


88 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN'  SUME-MOULDS 


;t  L 


vm 


present  species  ;  the  stipe  is  more  abundantly  and  deeply  jilicatc, 
is  sometimes  tinged  with  brown,  and  the  capillitium  is  darker 
colored  and  coarser  than  in  what  is  here  rej^arded  as  the  type 
of  the  species ;  but  withal  the  specimens  certainly  fail  to  meet 
the  re([uirements  of  Rostafinski's  elaborate  description  and 
fij,an-c  (J /<>>//.,  p.  i6i  and  Fi^.  154). 

]\  cffusitui  Link,  probably  stands  for  a  sessile  form  of  this 
species,  but  Link's  brief  description  (1816)  is  antedated  by  the 
much  better  one  of  Albertini  and  Schweinitz,  I.e. 

Generally  distributed  throughout  the  wooded  regions  of  North 
America,  from  New  England  to  Nicaragua,  and  from  Canada 
to  California.  Not  uncommon  about  stable-manure  heaps,  in 
flower  beds,  and  on  richly  manured  lands.     July,  August. 

Nicaragua  specimens  not  only  show  a  continuous  vein-like 
hypothallus,  but  have  the  peridia  often  confluent,  the  columellce 
in  s  H  cases  confluent,  the  stipes  distinct.  Furthermore,  the 
largest  spores  reach  the  limit  of  12.5  /x,  and  perhaps  the  larger 
number  range  from  10-12. 5  /x,  and  all  are  very  rough.  This 
corresponds  with  D.  viacrospcnmim  Rost.,  which  is  distinguished, 
says  the  author  {lifon.,  p.  162,  opis),  "chiefly  by  the  large  and 
strongly  spinulose  spores."  However,  the  same  sporangium  in 
our  Central  American  specimens  yields  spores  7.5-12.5  fx.  So 
that  D.  viacrospcrnium  on  this  side  the  ocean,  at  least,  cannot 
be  distinguished  from  D.  squaninlostini,  as  far  as  spores  are 
concerned.  A  similar  remark  may  be  made  relative  to  the  form 
of  the  columella  which  Rostafinski,  in  his  figures  especially, 
would  make  diagnostic.  The  columella  in  the  sporangia  with 
largest  and  roughest  spores  is  that  of  a  perfectly  normal 
D.  sqitamnlosnm. 


5.     DiUYMIUM    MELANOSPERMUM    {Po'S.)  Mlicbv. 

Plate  VII.,  Figs.  3,  3  a. 

1794.     PhysanDii  melaiiospcniuim  Pers.,  Rom.  N.  Mag.  Bot.,  p.  89. 
1797.     Didyni'um  farinacciDit  Sclirader,  Nov.  Gen.  PL,  p.  26,  t.  5,  Fig.  6. 

Sporangia    gregarious,    hemispheric,    depressed,    umbilicate 
below,    stipitate  or  sessile ;   the  peridi'mi  firm,   dull  brown   in 


h 


DIDYMlbM 


89 


color,  frosted  with  minute  crystals  of  lime,  breaking  irregularly  ; 
stipe,  when  present,  short,  stout,  dull  black,  opa(|ue,  arising  from 
a  broad  base  or  hypothallus ;  columella  large,  prominent;  dark- 
colored,  rough  above,  concave  below  ;  capillitium  of  more  or  less 
sinuous,  usually  dark-colored  threads,  sparingly  branched,  and 
often  with  calyciform  thickenings;  spore-mass  black,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  pale,  purplish  gray,  spinulose  or  rough,  10- 12 /a. 

A  well-marked  and  common  sjjecies,  distinguished  by  its 
depressed  sporangium  and  dark-colored,  ojKupie  stijie.  The 
latter  is  usually  very  short,  almost  completely  concealed  in  the 
concavity  of  the  umbilicatc  sporangium.  The  columella  is  dark 
colored,  forming  the  floor  of  the  peridial  cavity. 

Pcrsoon  first  named  this  species  as  here.  Later  on,  Vstcrs 
Ann.,  XV.,  6,  he  substituted  villosum  as  a  more  ai")i:)roi)riate 
specific  name.  Schrader  rejects  both  names  given  by  Persoon 
as  unsuitable,  and  suggests _/i?;'m?a7/;//.     Schrad.,  op.  cit.,  p.  27. 

New  England,  Ohio,  Missouri,  Alabama,  Iowa,  Nebraska. 


6.    DiDYMiUM  MINUS  Listcr. 

Pi-ATK  X.,  4,  \a,  4  b. 

1892.     Didymiiim  farinaceum  Sclit.,  var.  minus.  Lister.  Mycctozoa,  p.  97. 
i8g6.     DidynniiDii  ndntis  Lister,  Morgan,  Jour.  Ciii.  Soc.  ]).  61. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  depressed  globose,  imibilicate  below, 
whitish  or  gray,  small,  about  .]  mm.,  stij)itate ;  stipe  erect, 
rather  slender,  black,  faintly  striate,  about  eciuid  to  the  sporan- 
gium in  the  horizontal  diameter ;  columella  distinct,  dark  brown, 
globose  or  depressed  globose,  attaining  in  some  cases  the  centre, 
rough ;  capillitium  delicate,  almost  colorless,  radiating,  sparsely 
branched ;  spores  in  mass  dark  brown,  by  transmitted  light 
violet  tinted,  minutely  roughened,  8-10  /x. 

Probably  more  common  than  the  preceding,  and  generally 
mistaken  for  it.  Distinguished  by  its  smaller  size,  longer  and 
more  slender  stem,  and  general  trim,  well-differentiated  appear- 
ance. Certainly  very  near  the  preceding,  of  which  Mr.  Lister 
regards  it  as  merely  a  variety. 

New  York,  Ohio,  Iowa. 


90  THE  NORTH  AAfEIi/CAIV  SLIME-MOULDS 

7.  DiDYMiUM  c\.\\\j?,  {Aib.  and  Sc/iw.)  Rabcnhorst. 

1805.     Physaruin  clavtis  Alb.  and  Scliw.,  Cottsp.  Fung.,  p.  96. 

1829.     Didyiniuiii  iiiclaHopns  Fries,  Syst.  Myt  ,  III.,  p-  114. 

1844.     Didymiuni  clavus  (Alb.  and  Schw.)  Kabh.,  Ger.  Cr.  FL,  No.  2282. 

Sporangia  grej^arious,  pale  gray,  discoid  or  piliatc,  depressed 
stipitate ;  the  pcridium  dark-colored,  fro.sted  with  calcareous 
crystals  abov^e,  naked  below;  stipe  short,  slender,  tapering 
upward,  furrowed,  arising  from  a  hypothallus  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct, black  ;  columella  obsolete ;  capillitium  of  delicate  threads, 
pale  or  colorless,  little  branched ;  spores  violaceous,  pale,  nearly 
smooth,  6-8  fx. 

This  species  is  well  differentiated,  easy  of  recognition  by 
reason  of  its  peculiar  discoid  sporangium,  calcareous  above, 
naked  and  black  beneath.  D.  ncglcctum  Massee,  reported  from 
Philadelphia,  is  said  to  be  a  slender  form  of  the  present  species. 
The  figures  of  D.  clavus  by  Albertini  and  Schweinitz  are  excel- 
lent, as  also  the  description. 

Not  common.     Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa. 

8.  DiDVMiUM  NiGRiPKS  {Link)  Fvics. 

Plate  VII.,  Fi|^s.  2,  2  a,  2  b. 

1809.  P/iysannii  unp-ipes  Link,  Obs.  Diss.,  I.,  p.  27. 

18 1 8.  Pltysaruin  microcarpon  Fries,  Syin.  Cast.,  p.  23. 

1829.  Didyiiiiiiiit  iiii^ripcs  (Link)  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  119. 

1875.  Didymiiim  microcarpon  (Fries)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  157. 

i8g6.  Didymiiini  inicrocarpum  Fries,  Morg.,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  61. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  globose  or  hemispheric,  umbilicate  be- 
neath, small,  white,  stipitate;  the  peridium  smoky,  covered  with 
minute  calcareous  crystals ;  stipe  slender,  erect,  black,  opaque ; 
hypothallus  scutate,  black ;  columella  distinct,  globose,  black  or 
dark  brown ;  capillitium  of  delicate  threads,  pale  brown  or  color- 
less, with  occasional  brown  thickenings  or  nodes,  sparingly 
branched ;  spores  pale,  violaceous  by  transmitted  light,  minutely 
warted,  6-8  fx. 

This  is  D.  microcarpon  Rost.  Fries  {Syst.  Afyc,  III.,  119) 
acknowledges  the  priority  of  Link's  appellation,  and  discards 
microcarpon.      Rostafinski  adopted  microcarpon  simply  because 


DIDYMIUM 


91 


he  thought  it  more  appropriate.  Fries  describes  the  cohi- 
mclla  "none  or  black."  T  am  in  doubt  whether  vvc  have  the 
typical  Friesian  form  on  this  continent.  The  fructification  is 
in  our  specimens  small,  about  4  mm.,  and  the  spores,  as  note 
by  Morgan,  small ;  otherwise  the  species  is  hardly  more  than  a 
variety  of  the  ne.xt.  Under  the  name  D.  nigripcs  Lister  groups 
our  Nos.  8,  9,  10.  N.  A.  /".,  1393,  represents  Dr.  Re.x's  concep- 
tion of  the  present  species. 

Not  common.     New  York,  Ohio,  Iowa. 

9.    DiDVMiUM  XANTHOPUS  {Ditmar)  Fries. 

ri.ATK  XVI.,  lig.  10. 

1817.     Cionitim  xanthopus  Uitmar,  Sturm,  Deutsch.  Fl.,  III.,  p.  37,  t.  43. 
1829.     Didyviium  xanthopus  (Dit.)  P'rics,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  120. 
1873.     Didyminm proximuvi  H.  and  C,  Gret>.,  II.,  p.  52. 
1892.     Didymittiii  i/iicrocarpon   (I*>ies)    Rost.,  M;,i'br.,  Hull.   Lat.  Nat. 
Hist,  /inva,  II.,  p.  146,  (in  p.irt). 

1894.     Didyminm  nigripes  Fries,  Lister,  Mycetozoa,  p.  98,  (in  part). 

Sporangia  gregarious,  white,  globose,  slightly  umbilicate,  stipi- 
tate ;  the  peridium  thin,  and  nearly  or  quite  colorless,  frosted 
with  crystals  of  lime ;  the  stipe  yellowish  or  yellowish  brown, 
corneous,  erect,  subulate,  slender ;  hypothallus  none  ;  columella 
pale  or  white,  turbinate,  globose  or  depressed  globose ;  cajiillit- 
ium  of  dull  brown,  or  colorless  threads  more  or  less  branched, 
always  white  at  the  tips ;  spores  violaceous,  nearly  smooth, 
7.5-8.5  /A. 

This  seems  to  be  the  most  common  form  in  the  United  States. 
It  is  distinguished  from  the  preceding  by  the  longer,  more 
delicate,  generally  orange-yellow,  stem  with  pale  or  white  colu- 
mella. The  spores  also  average  a  shade  larger.  N.  A.  F.,  412 
and  2089,  are  illustrations  of  D.  xantJiopiis.  The  columella  in 
blown-out  specimens  is  very  striking,  well  confirming  the  diag- 
nosis of  Fries,  "valdc  promincns,  globosa,  stipitata,  alba.'' 
Berkeley  makes  the  color  of  the  capillitium  diagnostic  of  D. 
proximiim,  but  this  feature  is  insufBcient. 

Eastern  United  States  ;  common. 


V 


I. 


n 


'?} 


93  r//E  NORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 

10.     DlDVMlUM    EXIMIUM  Pcck. 

Platk  XVI.,  Fig.  9. 
1879.     Didymium  exiinium  Peck,  Rep.  N.  V.  Miis.,  XXXI.,  p.  41. 

Sporangia  scattered,  dull  grayish  yellow  or  gray,  globose,  um- 
bilicate,  minute,  stipitate ;  the  peridium  comparativ'ely  thick, 
tenacious,  especially  persistent  below,  tawny  or  yellow ;  the 
stipe  pale  brown  or  orange,  erect,  even  or  slightly  enlarged  at 
base  ;  hypothallus  scant  or  none ;  columella  prominent,  more  or 
less  discoidal,  rough,  or  spinulose,  especially  on  the  upper  sur- 
face, yellow ;  capillitium  not  abundant,  pale  fuliginous,  often 
branching  and  anastomosing  so  as  to  form  a  loose  net ;  spores 
nearly  smooth,  dark  violaceous  by  transmitted  light,  8.5-9.5 /x. 

Apparently  rare.  All  our  material  is  from  Dr.  Rc.x,  and  all 
collected  in  New  York,  Adirondack  Mountains.  The  species 
differs  from  D.  xantJiopus  in  several  particulars,  —  in  the  much 
firmer,  more  persistent,  and  less  calcareous  peridium,  in  the 
more  complex  capillitium,  in  the  darker  and  larger  spores,  and 
especially  in  the  peculiar  and  prominent  columella,  which  is  not 
only  rough,  but  even  "  sometimes  spinulose  even  to  the  extent 
of  long  spicules  penetrating  to  onc;-third  the  height  of  the 
sporangia."     N.  A,  R,  2493. 


3.  Diderma  Pevsoon. 

1794.     Diderma  Persoon  in  Roem.  N.  Mag.  Bot.,  I.,  p.  89. 
1873.     Chondrioderma  Rost.  Versuch,  p.  13. 

Sporangia  plasmodiocarpous  or  distinct,  sessile  or  stipitate ; 
the  peridium  as  a  rule  double,  the  outer  wall  generally  calcare- 
ous with  the  lime  granules  globular,  non-crystalline,  the  inner 
wall  very  delicate  and  often,  in  the  mature  fructification,  remote 
from  the  outer  ;  columella  generally  prominent. 

The  genus  Diderma  is  usually  easy  of  recognition,  by  reason 
of  its  double  wall,  the  outer,  crustaceous,  usually  calcareous,  and 
its  limits  remain  substantially  as  originally  set  by  Persoon.  His 
definition  is  as  follows :  — 


D/DERMA 


93 


"  Pcridiiim  ut  pliirimum  duplex;  cxtcrius  fraj^ilc ;  intcrius 
pclliicciis,  subdistans.  Columella  mai^na,  subrotunda.  Fila 
parca  latentia."  —  Syii.  Mcth.  I'^itu^.y  p.  168. 

Rostafinski  changed  the  name  ot  the  genus  to  Chondriodcvvtn 
(f7/('w</;7,  cartilage),  seemingly  at  De  Hary's  suggestion,  and  seems 
to  have  regarded  Persoon's  definition  as  apj)licable  to  those  spe- 
cies only  in  which  the  wall  is  not  only  plainly  double,  but  in 
which  the  two  walls  are  as  plainly  remote  from  each  other. 
More  especially  he  esteemed  a  new  generic  name  necessary, 
since  ho  regarded  several  ''ncu'ded  species,  as  D.  spuniarioiiliS, 
D.  viichclii^  etc.,  monodermic. 

Since  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  Didcruia  is  really  mono- 
dermic, and  since  Persoon's  definition  in  any  case  seems  suffi- 
ciently elastic,  we  have  seen  no  reason  to  discard  the  older 
name.  Persoon's  Didcrma  when  established.  I.e.,  included 
D.  Jiorifonnc.  He  made  some  confusion  in  his  later  work  by 
admitting  some  Physarums.  This  induced  Schrader  to  throw 
all  the  Didcrmas  into  his  new  genus,  Didy)niuui. 

According  to  the  nature  of  the  sporangial  wall,  the  species 
fall  rather  naturally  into  two  sections  :  — 

A.  Outer  sporangial  wall  distinctly  calcareous,  fragile ;  species  generally 

sessile  ..........        Didcrnta 

B.  Outer  sporangial  wall  cartilaginous,  the  inner  less  distinct,  or  concrete 

with  the  outer ;  species  oftener  stipitate        .         .        .      Lcaitgitini 


A.   Sub-Genus  DIDERMA. 

1.  Fructification  wholly  plasmodiocarpous       .         .         .        i.  /?.  effusion 

2.  Fnictification  elongate  and  branching,  but   sometimes   also   distinctly 

interrupted,  rounded,  forming  depressed  isolated  sporangia ;  spores 
6-8  /u.      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  2.  D.  ycticiilatitiii 

Spores  larger,  10-12 /A 3.  D,  persoonii 

3.  Fructification  of  distinct  sporangia. 

a.  Sporangia  on  a  common  hypothallus. 

*  Outer  wall  fragile,  not  widely  ••emote  from  the  inner, 

4.  D.  spKmarioidcs 
**  Outer  wall  crustaceous,  porcelain-like. 

i.  Spores  8-10 /u, 5.  D.  globosuvt 

ii.  Spores  12-15  /ix   .         •         •         •         .  d.  I),  crustaceiirn 


***  Outer  wall  firm,  not  cnastaceous 


7.  D.  lyallii 


>l 


A 


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f             -1: 

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1                [/,' 

ii 

i 

J 

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Mllj 

lBlBIj  '1 

94  yy/A'  iWORTH  AMlMlCAiY  SLIME-MOULDS 

b.  Sporangia  isolated,  or,  at  least,  not  on  a  common  hypv,thallu9, 

sessile. 

*  Outer  wall  porcelianoiis,  roseate  .         .         .8.  h.  tcstaceum 

**  Outer  wall  white  .         .         .         .         .         g.  /).  iii7\iim 

***  Outer  wall  aslien  .         .         .         .         .     \o.  /).  citureutn 

C.  Sporanyia  stipilate II.  D.  hemispherkiim 

n.  Si'H-Gknus  leanoium. 


i^.  D.  si'.uteri 


1.  Sporanji[ia  generally  sessile. 

a.  Inner  periilium  distinct 

b.  Peridial  layers  inseparal)le. 

*  I'eridium  multilid  ;  columella  small  or  none,    !2.  l).tr(vclyani 

•*  Peridium   breaking  into  but  few  irregular   lobes ;   columella 

prominent. 

i.  Peridium  umber  brown        .         .        .14.  D.  roaticnse 

ii.  Peridium  ashen 15.  Z?.  stellar e 

2.  Sporangia  stipitate. 

a.  I'eridium  pallid,  smooth 17.  D.floriforme 

b.  Peridium  white,  nigulose 16.  /'.  rugosum 

I.     DiDERMA    EFFUSUM  (5r//ty.)  i1/<?;^^//. 

1831.     J'itysaritiii  ejfiisitm  Schw.,  N".  A.  F.,  p.  257. 

1896.     Diderma  cjfnsiim  (Schw.)  "Slovg.,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  yi. 

Fructification  pla.smodiocarpous,  reticulate,  creeping,  appla- 
nate  and  generally  widely  effused,  white ;  the  peridium  thin, 
cinereous,  covered  by  a  delicate,  white,  calcareous  crust ;  the 
columella  simply  the  base  of  the  plasmodiocarp,  thin  aluta- 
ceous ;  the  capillitium  pale,  consisting  of  short  threads  some- 
what branched  toward  their  distal  extremities ;  spores  smooth, 
pale  violaceous,  8-10  /*• 

This  is  Pliysanini  cffusnm  Schw.,  v.  N.  A.  /^,  No.  2297.  It  is 
reported  by  Morgan  from  Ohio,  and  we  have  one  specimen 
from  eastern  Nebraska,  so  that  it  is  probably  of  general  dis- 
tribution in  the  eastern  United  States.  It  might  be  taken 
for  an  exceptionally  plasmodic  form  of  the  next  species, 
but  is  distinguished  by  the  extreme  thinness  of  the  fructifica- 
tion and  its  pure  white  color ;  it  looks  like  a  splash  of 
whitewash. 


nmiRMA 


95 


[tis 
nen 
|di.s- 
Iken 

ties, 
ica- 
of 


2.     DlPEKMA  HETICUI-ATUM  {Kost.)  AfoKiran. 

Pl.ATi;  \VI.,  I  i^'.  II. 

1.S75.     Clioudtioderma  ycthulatuni  I-lost.  .][<>n.,  p.  170. 

1894.    DUcnna  rcticuliituin  (Kost.)  Moig.,y<w/".  Cm.  Soc,  p.  71. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  generally  rounded  and  much  de- 
pressed, flat,  sometimes,  especially  toward  the  margin  ot  a 
colony,  elongate,  venulose  or  somewhat  plasmodiocarpous,  dull 
white,  the  inner  peridium  ashen  or  bluish,  remote  from  the 
calcareous  crust,  which  is  extremely  fragile,  easily  shelling  off; 
columella  indistinguishable  from  the  base  of  the  sporangium, 
thin,  alutaceous;  capillitium  of  short,  generally  colorless,  deli- 
cate, sparingly  branching  or  anastomosing  threads  perpendicu- 
lar to  the  cokn.iella;  spores  black  in  mass,  by  transmitted  light 
violet  tinted,  smooth,  6-8  im. 

Perhaps  our  most  common  species.  Found  in  fall  on  dead 
twigs,  leaves,  etc.  Recognized  by  its  rather  large,  white,  de- 
pressed or  flattened  sporangia  tending  to  form  reticulations, 
and  hence  suggesting  the  name.  The  lines  of  fruiting  tend  to 
follow  the  venation  of  the  supporting  leaf ;  where  the  sj^oran- 
gium  is  round,  the  columella  is  a  distinct  rounded  or  cake-like 
body;  where  the  fruit  is  venulose,  the  columella  is  less  distinct. 

Rostafinski  divided  the  genus  CJiondriodcrma,  i.e.  Didcnna, 
into  three  .sections :  — 

Monodcrma  to  include  those  species  in  which  the  calcareous 
crust  is  less  distinct  or  connate  with  the  true  peridium. 

Didcnna,  in  which  the  two  structures  were  plainly  separate, 

Lcangiiivi,  used  as  in  the  present  work.  In  his  first  section 
Rostafinski  placed  C.  rcticulatimi  and  C.  viicliclii  ;  in  the  second, 
C.  dijforvic  and  C.  calca renin. 

Lister  has  examined  Rostafinski's  type  of  C.  rcticiilatum  and 
declares  that  it  has  the  usual  Didermic  characters.  Hence 
there  is  no  doubt  that  our  small-spored  American  specimens 
arc  covered  by  Rostafinski's  description.  No.  72.  On  the  other 
hand.  Lister  makes  C.  diffonnc  (Pers. )  Rost.  g,  Didytnium,  by  its 
crystalline  coat.     That  species  therefore  is  removed  from  con- 


96 


THE  XOKTll  AMI.RtCAX  SI.IMF.  MOUl.m^ 


<  m 


,' .  1 


r> 


I 


sidcration  in  this  coiincctidii.  C,  ccilcarcum  remains  as  applica- 
l)lc  to  American  forms  having  tiic  spores  10-12  /i,  but  according' 
to  tile  aiillior  of  tlie  species  the  capillitium  is  alnmdant  and 
definitive.  Unhappily  the  ty|)e  of  C,  cahwritm  is  lost  (Lister, 
J/iv.,  |).  05),  so  that  there  is  no  other  means  of  verification 
than  the  description  and  Rostafinsl<i's  fi^jiire.  Under  these 
circumstances  we  consider  the  name  ca/tdtvinn  inapplicable  to 
any  American  forms  we  have  so  far  seen.  See  next  species. 
As  to  the  American   sj^ccies  which   have   been  distributed   as 

C.  calcarcinn  (Lk.)  Rost.,  they  arc,  so  far  as  seen,  referable  to 

D.  rcticitlatum  (Rost.),  Morg.  llcrc  also  belongs  No.  12 17, 
l<:ilis,  N.  A,  F. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa,  Nebraska.  Probably 
to  be  found  throughout  the  eastern  United  States. 

3.    DiDEKMA  VER^oo:<u  Afarlfr.  ;wm.  uov. 

1894.     Phkriiia  liiJD'ornie  Pers.,  Morg., /(;«;-.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  70. 

Sporangia  sessile,  gregarious  or  closely  aggregate,  dcprcs.scd, 
roundish,  elliptical,  elongate  or  plasmodiocarpous  as  in  the  pre- 
ceding species ;  outer  peridium  pure  white,  smooth,  fragile, 
remote  from  the  inner,  which  is  thin,  ashen,  or  bluish,  and 
inclined  to  iridescence  ;  columella  alutaceous  or  brownish,  not 
distinguishable  from  the  base  of  the  fructification,  the  so-called 
hypothallus ;  capillitium  very  scanty,  short  and  nearly  color- 
less, simple  or  slightly  forked;  spores  violet  brown,  smooth, 
10-12. 5  fi. 

This  species  resembles  in  general  character  some  phases  of 
the  preceding.  It  is,  however,  more  brilliantly  white,  and  the 
inner  peridium  in  good  specimens  shows  a  peculiar  lustre  of  a 
coppery  tinge  unlike  anything  else.  The  spores  also  are  im- 
mediately diagnostic,  large,  nearly  smooth,  dark  purple  brown 
in  color.  According  to  Rostafinski's  description  and  figures, 
it  can  hardly  be  referred  to  the  lost  I),  calcarcnvi.  D.  diffornic 
Pers.  has  been  removed  from  the  genus.  See  under  No.  2, 
preceding.  It  is  ..pleasant,  in  the  specific  name  suggested,  to 
commemorate  the  name  of  the  author  of  the  jrenus. 


Dllhl.KMA  c)7 

4.    Drr)F.KM.\  si'UMARioinF.s  Frii's, 

1S29.     Uidt'rina  spinniirioidi's  Krius.  Sy^t.  .J/ji .,  III.,  p.  104. 
1833.     J'/ivsiiniiit  strd/itiiti'iiin  I, ink..  //<///(//'..   III.,  p.  409. 
1876.     Cliotuinodcram  itioiihUcKin  (Lk.)  Kuxt.,  .//'/..  p.  18. 

Sporangia  sessile,  crowded,  spherical,  or  by  mutual  pressure 
irre;;ular,  white;  the  peridium  plainly  double,  but  the  layers 
adhering;,  the  outer  more  stronj^^ly  calcareous,  but  very  frail, 
almost  farinaceous  ;  hypothallus  more  or  less  plainly  in  evi- 
dence, white  or  pale  alutaceous ;  columella  distinct,  though 
often  small,  globose,  yellowish  ;  capillitium  variable  in  cpiantity, 
sometimes  abundant,  brown,  somewhat  branching;  and  anas- 
tomosing outwardly,  the  tips  paler;  sj^ores  minutely  roughened, 
dark  violaceous,  about  10  /i. 

This  species  has  the  outward  seeming  of  a  Didjtniion,  but  is 
plainly  different  as  that  genus  is  here  defined,  in  that  the 
calcareous  crust,  although  inclined  to  be  pulverulent,  is  made 
up  of  minute  granules,  not  crystals,  of  lime.  The  hypothallus 
is  sometimes  hardly  discoverable,  anon  well  developed,  out- 
spread, rugulosc,  fc'^r  beyond  the  limits  of  the  fructification.  In 
his  Monograph,  p.  175,  Rostafinski  includes  here  Pliysanim 
strouiatcHtu  Link.  In  the  Appendi.x  he  is  inclined  to  raise 
Link's  form  to  the  dignity  of  a  distinct  species,  basing  the 
diagnosis  upon  the  superposition  of  the  sporangia  in  certain 
caees,  a  feature  entirely  unknown  to  Link's  description  and  of 
extremely  uncertain  value,  since  by  their  crowding  the  spo- 
rangia are  liable  always  to  be  pushed  above  each  other.  We 
therefore  regard  C.  stromatcum  (Link)  Rost.  as  a  synonym  of 
the  present  species,  as  the  description,  Link,  JIamib.,  III.,  409, 
indicates  so  far  as  it  goes. 

5.     DiDEKMA    GLOBOSUM    PcrSOOH. 

V\.\\V.  VII.,   Fifis.  5,  5  <7. 

1794.     Diticnna  jE^lobosuii!  Pers.,  Ki'mi.  IV.  Muff.  Bot.,  I.,  p.  89. 
1875.     Cliond/ioderma  fflobosHiii  (ViiX'i.^  Rost.,  iJ/r^;/.,  p.  180. 

Sporangia  more  or  less  closely  gregarious,  sessile,  globose, 
or  by  mutual  pressure  prismatic  or  polyhedral,  white,  the  outer 
II 


<r\ 


98 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


1  '1 


fl  >s 


^<\\ 


]  i 


wall  smooth,  polished,  crustaccous,  fragile,  far  remote  from  the 
inner,  which  is  thin,  sp->ooth,  or  rugulose,  iridescent  blue ;  hypo- 
thallus  usually  pronounced  and  spreading  beyond  the  sporangia, 
scnctimes  scanty  or  lacking ;  columella  variable,  sometimes 
very  small,  inconspicuous,  sometimes  large,  globose,  ellipsoidal, 
even  pedicellate ;  capillitium  abundant,  brown  or  purplish 
brown,  branching  and  occasionally  anastomosing  to  form  a 
loosely  roiistructed  superficial  net;  spores  globose,  delicately 
spinulose,  8  /u.. 

This  species  seems  rare  in  this  country.  The  only  specimens 
SQ  far  are  from  Iowa.  It  is  distinguished  by  small  sporc:,  and 
general  snow  white  color.  Lister  has  thrown  doubt  upon  Rosta- 
finski's  definition  of  this  form — Mycctozoa,  p.  78.  Almost  every- 
thing distributed  in  the  United  States  under  this  name  belongs 
in  the  next  species.     Reported  also  from  Ohio  —  Morgan. 

6.     DiDERMA    CRUSTACEUM    Pcck. 

Pl,vtp:  VII.,  Fig.  7. 

1 87 1.     Diderma  crustacenm  Peck,  Rep.  N.  Y.  Miis.,  XXVI.,  p.  74. 
1889.     Choidriode) ma  criistaceuin  (Peck)  Berl.,  Sacc,  VII.,  p.  373. 

Sporangia  closely  crowded  or  superimposed,  in  a  cushion- 
like colony,  creamy  white,  globose,  imbedded  in  the  substance 
of  the  hypothallus,  the  outer  peridium  smooth,  delicate,  crusta- 
ccous, fragile,  remote  from  the  blue  iridescent  inner  membrane ; 
hypothallus  prominent ;  columella  variable,  generally  present, 
globose ;  capillitium  dark  colored,  the  threads  branching  and 
combining  to  form  a  loose  net ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  dark  violaceous,  delicately  roughened,  12-15  /*• 

Common.  Readily  to  be  distinguished  from  the  preceding 
by  the  larger  spores  and  more  crowded  habit.  New  England 
west  to  Nebraska. 

The  Didermas  are  generally  delicately  beautiful.  The  outer 
wall  in  the  present  species  is  like  finest  unglazed  china,  softly 
smooth,  and  yet  not  polished,  often  absolutely  white,  with  porce- 
lanous  fracture.  An  intcr-parietal  space  separates  the  outer 
from  the  inner  wall,  so  that  the  former  may  be  broken,  bit  by 


if 


DIDERMA 


99 


bit,  without  in  the  least  disturbinf;  the  underlying  structure. 
The  inner  wall  is  ashen  or  gauzy  iridescent  green,  sending  back 
all  colors  in  reflected  light.  The  spores  are  violet,  deeply  so 
when  fresh,  the  capillitium  strong  and  likewise  tinted,  the  colu- 
mella passing  down  and  blending  with  the  common  snow  white 
hypothalline  base.  The  distinct  habits  of  two  species  are  repre- 
sented in  Figs.  5  and  7.  In  the  one  the  distinct  sporangia  are 
associated  but  not  crowded;  in  the  other  all  are  massed  together 
in  quite  sethalioid  fashion,  forming  chalky  masses  of  considerable 
size  (2  or  3  cm.),  where  the  sporangia  are  regular  in  shape  and 
size  by  reason  of  mutual  pressure.  The  plasmodium  develops  in 
forests  and  orchards,  among  decaying  leaves.     July-September. 

7.     DiDEKMA    LYALLII    ISIaSSCC. 

I'LATK  XVI.,  Fig.  2. 
1892.     Diderma  lyallii  Massee,  Mon.^  p.  201. 

Sporangia  obovate,  more  or  less  closely  crowded,  white,  stipi- 
tate,  about  i  mm.  in  diameter,  the  outer  peridium  firm,  stout, 
encrusted,  especially  above,  with  granular  masses  of  lime,  the 
inner  well  developed,  more  or  less  cartilaginous,  opaque,  yellow 
or  buff  colored  ;  hypothallus  well  developed,  venulose,  white, 
passing  up  unchanged  to  form  the  short,  stout  stipe  and  lower 
outer  peridium ;  columella  prominent,  half  the  height  of  the 
sporangium,  brown ;  capillitium  of  short  brown  threads,  rigid, 
much  branched,  forming  a  net,  widened  irregularly  and  espe- 
cially at  the  net  nodes ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  by  transmitted 
light  bright  brown,  rough,  15-17  ii. 

A  very  distinct  species ;  large,  fine  showy  sporangia  in  more 
or  less  crowded  clusters  spring  from  a  snow  white,  common 
hypothallus.  First  reported  from  western  Canada.  Our  speci- 
mens were  collected  by  Mr.  Charles  Irish,  on  the  eastern  slopes 
of  the  Sierras,  in  Nevada. 

8.   Diderma  testaceum  (Schyad.)  Pcrs. 

1797.     Didymium  testaceum  Schrader,  IVov.  Gen.  Plant.,  p.  25. 
iSoi.     Didcrvia  tcstaceion  Persoon,  Syn.^  p.  167. 


.  i '       ■« 

i 

*    mk 

1 

100 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


1873.  Chondrifldcrmn  testaccuin  (Sclirad.)  Rost.,  Vcrs.^  p.  13. 

1874.  Didcrma  )iiaricc  w//^v;«/ Clinton,  Rep.  N.  Y.  Miis.,  XXVI.,  p.  74. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  sessile,  depressed,  spherical  or  some- 
times elongate,  small,  i  mm.  or  less,  rose  white,  smooth,  the 
outer  peridium  crustaceous,  rather  thick  and  persistent,  polished, 
slightly  rai.sed  above  the  inner,  which  is  dull  ashen  and  more  or 
less  wrinkled  ;  hypothallus  none  ;  columella  prominent,  hemi- 
spherical in  the  typical  rounded  forms,  slightly  rough  reddish 
or  reddish  alutaceous ;  capillitium  usually  abundant,  of  slender, 
delicate  pale  or  colorless  threads,  little  branched,  and  smooth ; 
spores  violaceous  brown,  minutely  roughened,  8-9  /a. 

A  very  beautiful  species  occurring  at  the  same  time  as  the 
preceding  and  in  similar  situations.  All  our  specimens  from 
the  west  are  on  dead  leaves  of  oak ;  some  eastern  gatherings 
are  on  moss.  Easily  recognized  when  fresh  by  its  delicate  pink 
or  roseate  color ;  weathered  specimens  are  white,  and  might  be 
confused  with  forms  of  D.  rcticnlatum,  but  the  sporangia  in 
the  present  species  are  less  flattened  and  only  rarely  in  special 
situations  run  off  to  linear  or  plasmodiocarpous  shapes  charac- 
teristic of  D.  rcticnlatum. 

Not  common,  although  widely  distributed  from  east  to  west. 
New  England,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  South  Carolina,  Ohio, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  California  {Harkncss). 


i  ■  2 ' 


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'.)    M 


'  V 


9.    DiDERMA  NiVEUM  (Rostafinski)  Macbv. 

1875.     Chfliuiriodcrma  niveum  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  170. 
1S77.     Didertna  albescens  Phillips,  Grev.,  V.,  p.  114. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  scattered,  or  more  often  crowded, 
sessile,  depressed,  spherical,  sometimes  ellipsoidal  or  elongate, 
white,  the  outer  peridium  crustaceous,  chalky,  smooth  and 
fragile,  the  inner  distinct,  delicate,  ochraceous ;  hypothallus' 
scant  or  none ;  columella  well  developed,  globose  or  hemispheri- 
cal, orange  tinted  or  ochraceous  ;  capillitium  abundant,  made  up 
of  threads  of  two  sorts,  some  purplish  or  dusky,  with  pale  extremi- 
ties, uneven,  others  more  delicate  and  colorless,  and  with  wart- 


DIDERMA 


lOI 


like  thickenings,  all  sparingly  branched  ;  spores  violet  brown, 
minutely  roughened,  9-10  /i. 

We  have  seen  no  specimens  of  this  species.  It  is  here  in- 
cluded on  the  authority  of  Lister's  Monograph,  as  providing 
a  place  for  Phillips's  species,  sure  to  be  seen  again  when  the 
cryptogamic  flora  of  the  Sierras  'hall  be  better  known. 

California. 

10.  DiDERMA  ciNEREUM  Mofiran. 

1894.     Didcrma  cinereiim  Morgan, yir;///'.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  70. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  more  or  less  crowded  or  even  confluent, 
sub-globose,  only  slightly  depressed,  ashen  white ;  the  peridium 
not  obviously  double,  very  smooth  and  thin,  rupturing  irregu- 
larly ;  hypothallus  an  indistinct  membrane  or  wholly  wanting ; 
columella  large,  globose  or  hemispheric,  white,  the  surface  granu- 
lose;  capillitium  of  very  slender  colored  threads,  the  extremities 
pellucid,  more  or  less  branched  ;  spores  violaceous,  minutely 
warted,  9-1 1  /*. 

Growing  on  old  wood,  leaves,  etc.  The  sporangium  .3-. 5  mm., 
thin  and  smooth  or  rugulose.  This  elegant  little  species  I  know 
only  from  specimens  received  from  Mr.  Morgan.  It  seems  to  be 
closely  related  to  D.  spiiviarioidcs,  from  which  it  is  distinguished 
by  its  color,  darker,  and  its  smoother  or  less  spinulose  spores. 
The  author  compares  the  color  and  external  appearance  to  that 
of  P.  cincreum,  — Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  XVI.,  p.  154. 

Ohio,  Pennsylvania. 

11.  DiDERMA    HEMISPHERICUM    {Bllll.)   HoniC. 

1791.  Rctiailaria  Jtciiiisphcrica  Ikill..  Cham,  dc  Fr.^  I.,  p.  93. 

1829.  Did}' /Ilium  licmisphcricum  (Bull.)  Fr.,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  115. 

1829.  Didcrma  Jiemisphcricum  (Hull.)  Home.,  /•'/.  Dan.,  XI.,  p.  18. 

1832.  Didymiiim  Diichclii  Lib.,  PI.  .Ird.,  No.  iSo. 

1873.  Chondriodcrtna  michclii  (Lib.)  Host.,  Fiickel,  Syin.  Myc,  p.  74. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  orbicular,  discoid,  depressed  above  and 
often  umbilicate  below,  stipitate  or  sometimes  sessile,  the  outer 
peridium  white,  fragile,  crustaceous,  soon  breaking  about  the 


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102 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


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margins,  closely  applied  to  the  iiiner,  which  is  delicate,  cinere- 
ous, and  ruptures  irregularly ;  stipe  about  equal  to  the  diameter 
of  the  sporangium,  i  mm.,  rather  stout,  calcareous  but  colored, 
brownish  or  alutaceous,  more  or  less  wrinkled  longitudinally, 
the  wrinkles  when  present  forming  veins  on  the  lower  surface 
of  the  sporangium  ;  hypothallus  small ;  columella  not  distinct 
from  the  thickened  brownish  or  reddish  base  of  the  sporangium  ; 
capillitium  of  delicate  threads,  mostly  simple  and  colorless,  often 
scanty ;  spores  pale  violaceous,  nearly  smooth,  8-9  /a. 

A  very  well  marked  species,  easily  recognized,  at  least  when 
stipitate,  by  its  remarkable  discoid  or  lenticular  sporangia. 
After  the  spore  dispersal,  the  stipes  are  long-persistent,  sur- 
mounted by  a  peculiar  disk  representing  the  consoHdated  colu- 
mella, lower  sporangial  wall,  and  expanded  stem  top.  Sessile 
specimens  arc  like  similar  forms  of  D.  rcticulatuniy  but  in  all 
the  gatherings  before  us  the  stipitate  type  is  at  hand  to  reveal 
the  identity  of  the  species. 

Rostafinski's  figures,  131,  146,  149,  and  150,  adapted  from 
Corda,  exaggerate  the  hypothallus,  but  otherwise  leave  nothing 
to  be  desired. 

As  to  the  synonymy,  Bulliard  has  plainly  the  priority.  His 
figure,  t.  446,  Fig.  i,  can  refer  to  nothing  else,  especially  re- 
enforced  as  it  is  by  Sowerby,  Eng.  Fung.,  t.  12. 

Rather  rare  on  fallen  stems  of  herbaceous  plants,  but  widely 
distributed.  New  England  to  Oregon  and  Washington. 

12.     DiDERMA    TREVELVANI    {GvCV.)    FvicS. 

1825.  Leaiii!;!"m  t ?-evcly ani dvew,  Scot.,  Cr.  Fl.,  tab.  132. 

1829.  Didcnna  trevelyani  (Grev.)  Fries,  Sys.  Myc,  III.,  p.  105. 

1875.  Chondriodcrma  Irevelyaiii  (Grev.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  182. 

1877.  Didcnna  gcastcroidcs  Phill.,  Grev..,  V.,  p.  113. 

1877.  Diderma  laciniatmn  Phill.,  Grev..,  V.,  p.  113. 

Sporangia  scattered,  globose  or  nearly  so,  smooth  or  verrucu- 
lose,  reddish  brown  or  rufescent,  sessile  or  short-stipitate,  the 
outer  peridium  firm,  splitting  more  or  less  regularly  into  un- 
equal, revolute,  petal-like  lobes  which  are  white  within,  the 
inner  not  distinguishable  as  such ;  stipe,  when  present,  equal. 


I 


t 


DIDERMA 


103 


furrowed,  ccncolorous ;  columella  small  or  none ;  capillitium 
abundant,  the  threads  rather  rigid,  purple  or  purplish  brown, 
branching  and  anastomosing,  more  or  less  beaded ;  spores  dark, 
violaceous  brown,  spinulose,  10-13  /*• 

In  1876,  Harkness  and  Moore  collected  in  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mountains  of  California,  forms  of  Didcrma  which  are  described 
by  Phillips,  Gre\ .,  V.,  p.  113,  as  D.  geastcroidcs  and  D  lacinia- 
turn.  English  authorities  who  have  examined  the  material  agree 
that  the  forms  described  constitute  but  a  single  species,  and 
Lister  makes  them  identical  with  D.  trevc/jaiii  (Grev.)  Fr. 
Rostafinski's  ^gures,  161,  162,  are  a  curious  reproduction,  evi- 
dently, of  Fried.  Nees  von  Esenbeck's,  Plate  IX.,  Fig,  4.  Mas- 
see  describes  a  columella ;  Lister  says  there  is  none. 

13.     DiDERMA    SAUTERI    {Rost.)  Macbv. 

1875.     Chondriodcrma  sauteri  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  181. 

1 891.     Chondriodenna  acideattim  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad..,  p.  390. 

Sporangia  scattered,  gregarious,  sessile,  lenticular  or  hemi- 
spherical, flattened  above  and  sometimes  concave  or  umbilicatc 
below,  dusky  or  yellowish  white,  the  outer  peridium  papyra- 
ceous, thin,  occasionally  wrinkled,  rupturing  irregularly,  remote 
from  the  inner,  which  is  thin,  delicate,  semi-transparent,  grayish, 
rarely  iridescent ;  hypothallus  none ;  columella  irregular,  some- 
times small  and  hardly  evident,  rugose,  with  spine-like  processes, 
the  persisting  bases  of  the  cajoillitial  threads  reddish  brown  ; 
capillitium  scanty,  white,  or  colorless,  simple  or  sparingly 
branched;  spores  dark  violaceous,  spinulose,  12-13  /ix. 

This  is  CJiondriodcrma  acnlcatuvi  Rex,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 
P/til.,  1891,  p.  391.  After  careful  comparison  of  specimens  and 
various  descriptions,  especially  that  of  Rostafinski  with  the  type 
specimens  of  Dr.  Rex,  I  am  constrained  to  concur  with  Lister 
in  adopting  Rostafinski's  name.  The  sporangia  in  the  type 
specimens  (Rex)  are  on  moss,  borne  at  the  extreme  tips  of  acu- 
minate or  aculeate  leaves,  so  that  at  first  sight  they  appear 
stipitate. 

Apparently  rare.     Maine,  New  York. 


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104 


THE  JVORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


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14.     DiDERMA    ROANENSE   {Rcx)   Mcubr. 

1893.  Chondriodenna  roancnse  Rex,  I'roc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  368. 
Sporangia  scattered,  discoidal,  thin,  flattened  or  slightly  con- 
vex above,  plane  or  plano-concave  below,  umber  brown,  stipitate, 
the  outer  peridium  smooth,  brittle,  rupturing  irregularly,  the 
basal  fragments  somewhat  persistent,  concrete  with  the  inner 
peridium,  which  is  pure  white,  except  near  the  columella,  and 
punctate ;  stipe  short,  variable,  longitudinally  ridged,  jet  black ; 
hypothallus  none ;  columella  flat,  discoidal,  pale  ochraceous ; 
capillitium  sparse,  white  or  colorless,  composed  of  simple,  rarely 
forked,  sinuous  threads  occasionally  joined  by  lateral  branches; 
spores  dark  violaceous,  distinctly  warted,  12-14  /'*• 

This  species  is  readily  distinguished  by  its  color.  The  spo- 
rangia, found  on  rotten  wood,  are  large,  i  mm.+,  brown,  and 
have  thick,  persistent  walls.  Dr.  Rex  considered  that  the  species 
differs  from  other  related  forms  not  only  in  color,  but  in  the 
well-marked  discoidal  columella  and  the  jet  black  irregular  stipe. 
It  is  perhaps  most  nearly  related  to  the  following  species. 

Tennessee. 


.,« 


15.       DiDERMA    STELLARE   {Sckvad.)   PcVSOOn. 

1753.  Lycopcrdon  7-adiatuin  Linn.  ?  Sp.  PL,  p.  1654. 

1797.  DidyiniiDii  stdlare  Schrader.  IVov.  Gen.  PL,  p.  21. 

1801.  Didenmi  stellare  (Schrad.)  Persoon,  Syn.,  p.  164. 

1875.  CJiondriodcriita  radiatuiii  (Linn.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  182. 

1S94.  Didcnna  radiatitin  (Linn.)  'S\oxg.,Jo!tr.  Ciii.  Soc,  p.  66. 

Sporangia  scattered,  depressed-globose,  sometimes  also  flat- 
tened below,  stipitate,  smooth  or  slightly  corrugate,  ashen  or 
brownish,  about  i  mm.  in  diameter,  the  peridium  dehiscing 
irregularly  or  somewhat  radiately  from  above  downwards,  the 
segments  reflexcd,  the  inner  layer  not  distinguishable,  or  insepa- 
rable ;  stipe  short,  stout,  brownish,  sometimes  almost  lacking ; 
hypothallus  not  conspicuous,  but  sometimes  sufficient  to  con- 
nect the  bases  of  adjacent  stipes ;  columella  large,  hemisjiheri- 
cal  or  globose,  pallid  or  yellowish ;  capillitium  abundant,  of 
slender  generally  simple  colored  threads,  paler  at  the  furcate 
tips  ;  spores  dark  violaceous,  minutely  roughened,  8-11/4. 


:,.  ii 


D/DERMA 


105 


Rare  on  rotten  logs  in  the  forests ;  September.  Easily  recog- 
nized by  the  short-stiped,  ashen  sporangia  which  before  dehis- 
cence indicate  by  delicate  tracings  the  lines  which  subseciuent 
cleavage  is  to  follow.  In  texture  the  peridium  resembles  that 
of  D.  Jlorifonnc. 

Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa,  Virginia. 

The  Linna^an  description  on  which  is  based  the  specific  name 
D.  radiatuui  is  wholly  inadequate.  It  appears  also  by  the  testi- 
mony of  Linney^/j-,  that  L.  radiatiwi  Linn  is  a  lichen!  and  the 
name  is  so  applied  by  Persoon. 

1 6.  DiDERMA  RUGOSUM  {Rcx)  IFacbv. 

Plate  XVI.,  Fig.  5. 
1893.     Chondrioderma  rugosiim  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  369. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  scattered,  white  or  ashen,  rugulose 
over  the  whole  surface,  the  ridges  marking  the  lines  of  subse- 
quent rupture  or  dehiscence,  the  peridium  thin  papyraceous, 
stipitate ;  stipe  well  developed  about  equal  to  the  sporangium, 
subulate  almost  black ;  hypothallus  none ;  columella  distinct, 
generally  white,  sometimes  small,  globose,  sometimes  penetrat- 
ing the  sporangium  as  in  the  next  species,  to  one-half  the 
height;  capillitium  white  or  colorless,  the  filaments  freely 
forked  and  combined  by  lateral  branches  into  a  loose  network 
attached  to  the  columella  and  basal  wall  below  and  the  upper 
sporangial  wall  above;  spores  violaceous  brown,  warted,  8-10  /u. 

This  species  is  well  designated  rngosuni,  and  is  recognizable 
at  sight  by  its  wrinkled,  areolate  surface.  Related  to  D.  radia- 
tiini  in  the  prefigured  dehiscence,  but  otherwise  very  distinct. 
Liable  to  be  overlooked  as  a  prematurely  dried  Physarum. 
Rare.     Plasmodium  gray. 

North  Carolina,  Iowa. 

17.  DiDERMA    FLORIFORME   {Bllll.)   PcVS. 

Plate  VIII.,  Figs,  i,  i  (/,  i  b. 

1791.     Sphcerocarpus  floriforinis  liulliarci,  Chairp.,  p.  142,  t.  371. 
1794.     Diderma fioriforme  (Bull.)  Persoon,  Rom.  N.  Mag.  Bot.^  p.  89. 


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THE  A'ORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


Sporangia  crowded,  generally  in  dense  colonies,  globose, 
smooth,  ochraccous  white,  stipitate,  the  pcridium  thick  cartilagi- 
nous, splitting  from  above  into  several  petal-like  lobes,  which 
become  speedily  reflexed  exposing  the  swarthy  spore-mass,  the 
inner  pcridium  not  discoverable,  inseparable ;  stipe  concolorous, 
about  equal  to  the  sporangium ;  hypothallus,  generally  well 
developed,  but  thin,  membranaceous,  common  to  all  the  spo- 
rangia ;  columella  prominent,  globose  or  cylindric,  often  con- 
stricted below,  and  prolonged  upward  almost  to  the  top  of  the 
spore-case ;  capillitium  of  slender,  delicate,  sparingly  branched 
threads ;  spores  dark  violaceous  brown,  studded  with  scattered 
warts,  lo-i  I  /x. 

Not  uncommon,  especially  on  rotten  oak  logs.  Easily  recog- 
nized by  the  peculiar  form  of  the  fruit,  spherical  before  dehis- 
cence, floriform  after.  Unlike  most  species,  this  form  often 
fruits  in  dark  places,  in  the  interior  of  a  log,  even  in  the 
ground. 

New  England,  Ontario  to  Iowa  and  Nebraska,  and  south. 


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4.  Lepidoderma  De  Bary. 

1858.     Lepidoderma  De  Bary,  MS.  Rost.,  Versuch,  p.  13. 

Sporangia  stalked  or  sessile ;  peridium  cartilaginous,  adorned 
without  with  large  scales  consisting  of  calcium  bicarbonate, 
superficial  or  shut  in  lenticular  cavities ;  capillitium  non- 
calcareous. 

A  single  species,  — 

r.    Lepidoderma  tigrinum  {Sc/wad.)  Rost. 

Plate  XIV.,  Fig.  7. 

1797.     Didymiuvi  tigrinum  Schrader,  Nov.  Gen.  Plantarum,  p.  22. 
1873.     Lepidoderma  tigrinum  (Schrad.)  Rost.,  Vcrsuch.,  p.  13. 

Sporangia  scattered,  rather  large,  hemispherical  depressed, 
stipitate,  umbilicate  beneath,  the  peridium  shining,  olivaceous 
or  purplish,  tough,  covered  more  or  less  abundantly  with  angular 
scales ;   the  stipe  stout,  furrowed,  dark  brown,  but  containing 


STEMOmTA  CE/E 


107 


calcareous  deposits  withal,  tapering  upward,  and  continued 
within  the  pcridium  as  a  pronounced  more  or  less  calcareous 
columella ;  hypothallus  more  or  less  prominent,  yellowish  or 
brownish ;  capillitium  dark  purplish  brown,  of  sparin^My  branch- 
ing threads  radiating  from  the  columella ;  spores  dull  purplish 
brown,  minutely  roughened,  10-12  /u.. 

A  singular  species,  rare,  but  easily  recognized  by  its  peculiar, 
placoid  scales,  large  and  firmly  embedded  in  the  peridial  wall. 
The  internal  structure  is  essentially  that  of  Didcnna  or  Didyin- 
iiim.  The  species  occurs  in  hilly  or  mountainous  regions,  on 
moss-covered  logs.  The  Plasmodium  pale  yellow,  and  some 
part  of  it  not  infrequently  remains  as  a  venulose  hypothallus 
connecting  such  sporangia  as  are  near  together. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  New  England,  Missouri,  Iowa; 
Black  Hills,  South  Dakota,  Washington. 

Order  II. 

STEMONITACEiE. 

Capillitium  present,  thread-like,  arising  in  typical  cases  from  a 
well-developed  columella ;  spores  in  mass,  black  or  violet  brown, 
more  rarely  ferruginous. 

Key  to  the  Families  of  Stemonitaceae. 

A.  Fructification   aethalioid,  capillitium   poorly  defined ;   columella  nidi- 

mentary  or  none AmaurocH/KTK/E 

B.  Fructification  jcthalioid,  or  of  distinct  sporangia,  capillitium  well  de- 

fined ;    the    columella   generally  prominent,   long  and  abundantly 
branched  throughout Stemoxite^e 

C.  Sporangia   distinct ;    capillitium   developed   chiefly  or  only   from   the 

summit  of  the  columella  ....       Lampkodekme.e 

A.   AMAUROCH/ETE/E. 

Fructification  aethalioid,  an  inch  or  two  in  diameter,  in  form 
varying  with  the  habitat,  developed  from  a  plasmodium  at  first 
white,  then  yellow,  passing  through  various  tints  of  brown,  at 


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THE  NORTH  AMERICAN-  SLIME-MOUI.DS 


length  jet  black,  when  it  is  covered  by  a  thin  papery  silvery 
membrane ;  hypothallus  generally  well  developed  ;  capillitium 
dendroid,  consisting  of  rather  stout  branches  which  rise  ir- 
regularly more  or  less  vertically  from  the  hypothallus,  branch 
repeatedly,  often  anastomose  to  form  a  network,  especially 
toward  the  periphery  ;  spores  black. 
A  single  genus  — 


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1.   Amaurochaete  Rostafinski, 

1873.     Amaurochcete  Rost.,  Vcrsuch,,  p.  8. 

The  genus  Amaurochcete  as  defined  by  Rostafinski  and  the 
genus  Rcticularia  as  represented  by  A',  lycopcnion  Bull,  stand, 
no  doubt,  very  near  together.  The  capillitial  structure  in  the 
two  forms  is  similar,  the  mode  of  development  and  habit  of 
growth  are  also  similar;  they  differ  in  color  and  in  the  nature 
of  the  cpisporc.  The  two  forms  seem  to  us  to  occupy  a  position 
near  the  dividing  point  from  which  radiate  two  distinct  lines  of 
differentiation ;  the  one,  by  way  of  Stcmonitis  and  ComatricJia^ 
finds  its  extreme  in  Lamprodenna  and  Encrthcncma  ;  the  other, 
through  Entcridiiun  and  Tuhifera,  reaches  its  climax  among  the 
Trichias.  To  the  first  of  these  series  belongs  Ainanrocluctc, 
while  the  color  and  sculptured  or  reticulate  spores  of  Rcticularia 
seem  to  ally  it  more  nearly  with  the  latter  series.  If  it  be  sug- 
gested that  it  is  inconsistent  to  esteem  a  structure,  confessedly 
similar  in  the  two  genera,  the  so-called  capillitium,  as  at  once 
related  to  the  columella,  as  in  Stcmonitis,  and  the  peridium,  as 
in  Tubifcra,  it  is  necessary  only  to  recall  the  fact  that  in  the 
best  case  all  such  structures  of  the  fructification  arc  but  forms 
of  the  residue  after  the  formation  of  the  spores  ;  so  that  it  is  per- 
fectly within  the  lines  of  present  knowledge  to  maintain  that 
the  ascending  dendroid  capillitial  filaments  of  AmaurocJuvtc  arc 
the  precursors  of  stemonite  columella?,  while  the  flat  expanded 
branches  of  similar  structures  m  Rcticularia  become  later  on  the 
peridial  walls  of  distinct  saccate  sporangia.  There  are  before 
us  specimens  of  A.  atra,  in  which  the  capillitium  is  all  vertical 


AMAi'ROCH.KIE 


109 


in  trend,  and  the  resemblance  to  a  cluster  of   rather  ragged 
specimens  of  Stcmonitis  is  sufficiently  striking. 

I.    Amauroch.ete  fulfginosa  {SoiUi'vby)  Macbf. 

Platk  v.,  l''it^s.  S,  S  a. 

1S03.     l.ycoperdon  fulii^iHosu  v  Sow.,  I'lm^.  Finn;.,  t.  257. 
liSo5.     l.ycth^ala  alniiii,  All),  ami  Sclav. ,  Coiisp.  J'um;;.,  p.  83. 
1875.     .liihiinoc/uete  alia  (Alb.  uud  Scluv.),  Kust.,  Moit.,  p.  211. 

Fructification  a^thalioid,  varying  in  form  and  size,  if  on  the 
upper  side  of  the  substratum,  pulvinate,  if  below  pendent  and 
almost  stipitate,  covered  with  a  delicate  corte.v,  at  first  shining, 
soon  dull,  black,  fragile,  and  early  dissipated ;  hypothallus  long 
persisting,  supporting  the  capillitium,  which  is  extremely  variable, 
irregular,  and  for  its  perfection  dependent  upon  the  form  as- 
sumed  by  the  jrthalium,  and  the  conditions  of  weather,  etc., 
under  which  it  matures,  sometimes,  especially  when  prostrate, 
in  a  very  much  depressed  X'thalium,  spreading  into  long  fibrous 
threads,  again  under  better  conditions  rising  in  columella-like 
forms,  supporting  a  peripheral  net ;  spores  dark  brown  or  black, 
irregularly  globose,  spinulosc,  1 2.5-1 5  \i. 

Common  in  Europe,  and  probably  not  uncommon  in  this 
country  wherever  pine  forests  occur.  Specime.is  before  us  are 
from  New  England  and  New  York.  It  is  reported  from  the 
Carolinas  (Curtis);  from  Ohio  (Morgan). 

Sowerby,  in  his  comment  on  plate  257,  Ens;.  Fungi,  says: 
"  It  appears  to  consist  of  branching  threads  affixed  to  the  deal 
and  holding  a  dense  mass  of  sooty  powder.  Over  the  whole  is 
a  thin,  deciduous  pellicle."  This  description  seems  to  be  ap- 
plicable to  nothing  else.  The  figure  amounts  to  nothing.  Fries 
recognizes  the  English  description,  as  docs  Rostafinski,  but  both 
authors  adopt  the  later  name  given  by  Albertini  and  Schweinitz, 
simply  because  of  the  excellent  detailed  description  found  in  the 
Conspectus. 

B.  STEMONITE/E. 

Capillitium  abundant,  springing  usually  as  dissipating  branches 
from  all  parts  of  the  columella ;  the  sporangia  generally  definite 


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rUl'.   NORTH  AMERICAN  SI.IME-MOUl.DS 


and  distinct,  thouf^h    sometimes   closely  placed   and  generally 
rising  from  a  common  hypothallus. 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Stemonites 

//.    Fructification  atlialioid  ;  capillitium  charged  with  vesicles, 

I.    BKEFELniA 

13.   Sporanjjia  distinct,  or  nearly  so. 

a.  Stipe  and  coliinieiia  jet  black. 

1.  Capillitium  so  united  as  to  form  a  surface  net,  2.  Stemonitis 

2.  Capillitial  branch-tips  free  .         ,         .3.  Co.MATUlcii.v 

b.  Stipe  and  columella  whitish  ;  calcareous     .         .  4.  Diachka 


,1 


I 


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1.    Brefeldia  Rostnfiuski. 

1873.     Brefeldia  Rostafinski,  Versitc/i,  p.  8. 

Sporangia  occupying  in  the  cethalium  several  layers,  those  of 
the  median,  and  especially  of  the  lowest  layers,  furnished  with 
columella  which  blend  beneath  ;  capillitium  threads  in  the  lowest 
layers  arising  from  the  columella,  in  the  upper  extending  radi- 
ately  between  the  individual  sporangia,  and  united  at  the  sporan- 
gial  limits  by  means  of  rather  large  inflated  cells. 

The  genus  Bnfcldia  is,  like  some  others,  difficult  to  dispose 
of  in  any  scheme  of  classification  where  linear  sequence  must 
be  followed.  Rostafinski  placed  it  in  an  order  by  itself.  Its 
relationships  are  on  the  one  hand  w'lXh  Amanroc/uBte  and  Rcticn- 
laria,  and  on  the  other  with  the  Stcniojiitccc,  though  easily  dis- 
tinguished from  either.  It  is  intermediate  to  Amanrocluctc  and 
StanoiiitiSy  and  with;.,!,  as  it  appears  to  us,  a  little  nearer  the 
latter,  as  the  limits  of  the  individual  sporangia  arc  in  Brefeldia 
pretty  well  defined. 


I'l 


I.    Brefeldia  maxima  {Fries)  Rost. 

Frontisi'Iixe  ;   Plate  V.,  Figs.  T,  T  o,  >]  b. 

1825.     Reticularia  iiiaxiiiia  Fries,  Syst.  Orb.  Fft^.,  I.,  p.  147. 
1875.     Brefeldia  niaxinia  (Fries)  Rost.,  Versiic/i.,  p.  8. 

^thalium   large,  two   to  ten  inches,  papillate  above,  violet 
black  at  first,  then  purple  or  purple  brown,  developed  upon  a 


liREIELDl.  I 


I  I  I 


(let 
a 


widespread,  silver-shining  hypothallus ;  sporanfjia  in  favorable 
cases  distinct,  indicated  above  by  the  papilla' ;  colunielhr  obscure, 
black;  capilliliuni  abundant,  the  threads  unitin;^-  by  niultilid 
ends  to  surround  as  with  a  net  the  peculiar  vesicles;  spore-mass 
dark  violet  black,  the  individual  spores  paler  by  transmitted 
light,  distinctly  papillose,  12-15  H- 

A  very  remarkable  species  and  one  of  the  lar^^est,  rivalled 
by  Fii/ii^o  only.  To  be  compared  with  Rcticiildrid,  which  it 
resembles  somewhat  externally,  and  with  .some  of  the  larger 
specimens  of  Entciidiiim.  The  plasmodium  at  first  while  with 
a  bluish  tin^e  is  developed  abundantly  in  rotten  wood,  prefer- 
ably a  lar^^e  oak  stump,  and  chan<;es  color  as  maturity  comes 
on,  much  in  the  lashion  of  Stcmonitis  splcmicns^  leavin^L;  a 
widespread  hypothallic  film  to  extend  far  around  the  perfected 
fruit-mass.  In  well-matured  a-thalia,  "Jove  favi-iiti\"  the  sjio- 
rangia  stand  out  perfectly  distinct,  particularly  above  and 
around  the  marj^ins.  Closely  and  compactly  crowded,  they  be- 
come prismatic  by  mutual  pressure,  and  attain  sometimes  the 
height  of  half  an  inch  or  more.  In  the  centre  of  the  fructi- 
fication, next  the  hypothallus,  the  sporangia  are  very  imper- 
fectly differentiated.  Many  are  here  horizontally  placed,  and 
perhaps  supplied  with  an  imperfectly  formed  peridium,  —  if  so 
arc  to  be  interpreted  the  lowest  parts  of  the  capillitial  struc- 
ture, the  long,  branching,  ribbon-like  strands  which  lie  along 
the  hypothallus.  Some  of  these  branch  repeatedly  with  flat 
anastomosing  branchlets,  ultimately  fray  out  into  lengthened 
threads,  and  perish  after  all  the  superstructure  has  been  blown 
away.  From  every  part  of  the  structure  so  described,  but 
more  especially  from  the  margins,  are  given  off  in  profusion 
the  strange  cystifcrous  threads,  so  characteristic  of  this  geiius. 
These  arc  exceeding  delicate  filaments,  attached  at  one  end, 
it  may  be,  to  a  principal  branch,  at  the  other  free  or  united  to  a 
second  which  again  joins  a  third,  and  so  looping  and  branching, 
dividing,  they  form  a  more  or  less  extended  network,  a 
capillitium  in  which  are  entangled  the  myriad  spores.  ICach 
filament  bears  at  its   middle  point  (or  is  it  the  meeting-point 


I'll 


112 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


u 


)    I-    ■: 


s\ 


of  two  ?)  a  peculiar  plexus  which  embraces  several  large  cysts 
or  vesicles  whose  function  or  further  homology  does  not  readily 
appear. 

From  the  base  of  the  fructification  rise  also  ascending 
branches  which  are  black,  terete,  and  not  infrequently  branched 
as  if  to  form  the  capillitium  of  a  Sternonitis.  These  ascending 
branches  are  in  many  cases,  probably  in  all,  real,  though  as  yet 
imperfectly  developed,  columellcc.  They  rise,  at  least  in  many 
cases,  directly  from  the  hypothallus,  each  is  central  to  an 
individual  sporangium,  rises  to  about  two-thirds  its  height,  but 
never  attains  the  summit.  The  sporangia  are  so  crowded  that 
many  are  choked  off  below,  never  reach  the  top  of  the  a^tha- 
lium.  In  such  cases  the  columella  may  cease  at  the  sporan- 
gium-top. The  columella  bears  cystiferous  threads  sparingly, 
if  at  all ;  nevertheless  these  abound  in  the  peripheral  portions 
of  the  sporangium  all  the  way  up,  and  are  especially  noticeable 
beyond  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  columella.  Many  are  so 
arranged  that  the  plexus  with  its  vesicles  occupies  a  place  in 
the  plane  separating  adjacent  sporangia,  suggesting  the  possi- 
bility that  we  have  here  to  do  with  an  imperfectly  developed 
surface-net  and  peridium.  In  this  view  the  cysts  would  repre- 
sent the  rneeting-point  of  two  opposite  radial  capillitial  threads 
rather  than  the  middle  of  one.  '^his  accords  with  Rostafinski's 
observations  and  drawings.  The  cyst.s,  then,  belong  morpho- 
logically to  the  peridium  or  sporangium  v/all.  It  is  a  Stemoni- 
tis  whose  sporangia  have  never  been  perfectly  differentiated, 
a  case  of  arrested  development.  See  further  under  Sternonitis 
conjluciis. 

Rostafinski  really  offers  the  first  definitive  description.  Fries 
probably  distinguished  it,  but  his  description  would  not  indicate 
the  fact  except  for  the  added  note  wherein  appears  the  reason 
for  discarding  an  apparently  older  name,  viz.,  that  given  by 
Link.  But  neither  Link  nor  Sowerby  distinguished  by  descrip- 
tion or  figure  Birfeldia  from  AmaurocJicetc. 

Apparently  not  very  common.  New  England,  Wisconsin, 
Minnesota,  Iowa. 


STEMO.y/TIS 


II 


2.  Stemonitis  {Glcditsc/i)  Rost. 

1753.     Stemonitis  Gleditsch,  in  jjart,  Meth.  Fitnt^.,  p.  140. 
1873.     Stc))!onitis  (Gleditsch)  Kost.,  I'ersuc/u  p.  7. 

Sporangia  distinct,  though  often  closely  aggregate,  cylin- 
dric,  stipitate ;  columella  prominent ;  capillitium  well  developed 
by  repeated  lateral  and  apical  branching  of  the  columella,  at 
length  assuming  at  the  surface  the  form  of  a  distinct  net  which 
supports  an  evanescent  peridium. 

The  genus  is  marked  by  its  surface-net  supported  at  the  tips 
of  the  dichotomously  branched  divisions  of  the  columella.  Over 
the  net  is  spread,  theoretically  at  least,  the  peridial  film  sup- 
ported by  very  short  points  projecting  from  the  net,  — the  perid- 
ial processes ;  the  peridium,  however,  is  seldom  seen ;  in  some 
cases,  certainly,  is  never  developed.  Rostafmski  first  defined 
the  genus  as  employed  by  recent  writers.  Gleditsch  simply 
renamed  Micheli's  ClatJivoidastrum ;  all  writers  subsequent  in- 
cluded species  of  other  genera. 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Stemonitis. 


itis 

ries 
ate 
son 
by 
rip- 
sin. 


A.  Sporanp;ia  connately  united 

B.  Sporangia  at  maturity  distinct. 


I.  S.  cofi/luois 


.    2.  S.fusca 

5.  S.  virginiensis 

3.  S.  uigrcsccns 
4.  S.  inaxiina 


a.  Spore-mass  grayish  black  or  black. 

1.  Epispore  slightly  warted,  not  reticulate 

2.  Epispore  reticulate. 

i.    Reticulations  band-like    . 
ii.    Reticulations  delicate. 

*  Sporangia  short,  jet  black 
**  Sporangia  longer,  fuscous 

b.  Spore-mass  rich  brown  ;  sporangia  tall,  25  mm.  or  larger. 

I.    Columella  central 6.  6".  vwri^ani 

1.   Columella  eccentric,  twisted     .         .         •7-  S.  fcncsirata 

c.  Sporangia  dark  brown,  shorter,  gregarious,  spores  nearly  smootli, 

12.  ^■.  pallida 

d.  Spore-mass  ferruginous. 

I.    Spores  smooth  or  nearly  so. 

i.    Sporangia  pale  ferruginous,  crowded,  stipe   not    pol- 
ished   \o.  S.  s /nit /tit 

ii.   Sporangia  clavate,  darker  when  fresh,  stipe  p(  lislied, 

II.  a.  carolinensis 


114 


THE  XORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 

2.    Spores  minutely  warted. 

i.    Generally  on  parts  of  living  plants,  meshes  small, 

9.  .S'.  axifcra 
ii.   On  dead  wood;  meshes  very  large,  70-150  /x, 

8.  ^".  tvebberi 


I'M 


% 


1  ' 


)\ 


I.    Stemonitis  confluens  Cooke  and  Ellis. 

P1.ATK  XI.,  Figs.  4,  4  a,  5. 

1876.     Stemonitis  confluens  Cke.  and  Ell.,  Grev.,  V.,  p.  51. 

1894.     Stemonitis  splendens  var  confluens  Lister,  Mycetozoa,  p.  112. 

"  Sporangia  fasciculate,  confluent  on  a  persistent  hypothallus, 
dark  fuscous ;  peridia  very  fugacious  ;  stipes  united  at  the  base, 
erect,  furcate ;  spores  large,  brown,  globose.     On  oak  bark. 

"  The  stems  are  branched  in  a  furcate  manner  and  confluent 
at  the  base,  forming  a  compact  tuft.  The  capillitium  •■  ■  mem- 
branaceous at  the  angles ;  spores  very  large  compared  with 
allied  species,  being  12  ix.  The  specimens  were  too  fully  ma- 
tured for  more  satisfactory  description." 

Such  is  the  original  description  of  this  unique  and  interesting 
species.  The  sporangia  occur  in  close  set  tufts  or  clusters,  are 
distinct,  separate  at  their  tips  and  bases  only ;  perhaps  not 
always  at  base.  The  capillitium  rises  by  branching  from  the 
columella,  rather  more  prolific  than  usual,  and  combines  to  form 
a  distinct  superficial  net  of  large  even  meshes.  From  the  outer 
arcs  of  the  bounding  net  spring  rather  long  acute  processcb 
which  should  support  the  peridium.  This,  however,  is  al  - 
gether  rudimentary.  In  most  places  there  is  no  sign  of 
peridium  at  all,  but  here  and  there  between  contiguous  spo- 
rangia opposite  processes  unite  and  at  their  point  of  union  a  tiny 
circular  disk  of  the  peridial  membrane  appears.  At  intervals, 
therefore,  over  the  entire  sporangium  are  seen  these  smell  brown 
disks,  each  about  equalling  in  diameter  the  size  of  the  average 
mesh.  At  other  points  the  sporangia  do  not  seem  at  all  coales- 
cent,  but  where  the  opposing  processes  do  meet  the  union  is  per- 
fect and  the  little  disk  seen  edgewise  looks  like  some  delicate 
counter  strung  upon  a  wire. 


!  I 


STEMOAT/T/S 


115 


The  interest  attaching  to  this,  in  view  of  what  has  been  said 
about  Aniaurocluctc  and  Brcfcldia,  is  obvious. 

Under  the  lens  the  spores  and  capillitium  arc  concolorous, 
dark  fuscous,  the  spores  distinctly  verruculosc,  about  12.5  /u. 

The  original  gathering  as  here  d.scribcd  was  from  New  Jer- 
sey;  tw^enty  years  later  Mr.  Ellis  was  so  fortunate  as  to  find 
again  fine  specimens  of  the  species.  All  specimens  so  far  are 
from  oak  bark.  The  sporangia  are  very  small,  3  mm.  high,  and 
almost,  especially  when  blown  out,  concolorous  with  the  habitat. 


ot 


2.    Stfmonitis  fusca  {Rotli)  Rostafinski. 

1787.     StemoHiiis  fusca  Roth,  Ro/ii.  Mui,^.  Bot.,  I.,  p.  26. 
1875.     Stcmonitis  fusca  (Roth)  Rost.,  J/rw.,  p.  193. 
1892.     Stemonitis  fusca  Rost.,  Alassee,  Mon.,  p.  72. 

Sporangia  tufted,  generally  in  small  clusters,  the  individual 
sporangia  slender,  cylindric,  blue  black  or  fuscous,  becoming 
pallid  as  the  spores  are  lost,  stipitate ;  stipe  short,  about  one- 
fourth  the  total  height,  black  shining ;  hypothallus  scanty,  but 
common  to  all  the  sporangia  ;  columella  prominent,  attaining 
almost  the  apex  of  the  sporangium,  freely  branching  to  support 
the  capillitial  net ;  capillitium  of  slender  dusky  threads,  which 
freely  anastomose  to  form  a  dense  interior  network,  and  out- 
wardly at  length  combine  to  form  a  close-mcshcd  net ;  spores 
pale,  dusky  violet,  smooth  or  more  or  less  warted,  but  not 
reticulate,  about  7-7.5  fi. 

Rostafinski  uses,  as  the  type  of  what  he  esteems  Roth's 
species,  a  form  with  smooth  spores.  Such  specimens  are  in 
this  country  rare.  Specimens  identified  by  Rostafinski  in  1875 
as  S.  fusca  have  the  spores  slightly  warted  when  viewed  under 
a  Zeiss  ^,y  All  the  dark  colored,  fuscous  forms  of  North 
America  fall  easily  into  two  divisions,  those  having  spores,  as 
in  the  present  species,  and  those  with  spores  reticulate.  For 
those  with  reticulate  spores,  Schweinitz  has  left  us  a  name,  his 
specimens  of  S.  itiaxima  {teste  Rex)  having  spores  of  the  com- 
mon reticulate  form.  The  species  3  and  5,  as  here  listed,  are 
special  cases. 


ii6 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 


Apparently  not  common  east,  though  widely  distrihuted. 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Tennessee,  Iowa  ;  Black  Hills,  South 
Dakota !  Apparently  more  common  on  the  Pacific  coast.  Cali- 
fornia, Oregon,  Washington.  Some  California  .ipecimens  have 
spores  without  warts,  even  when  magnified  1400  diameters. 

3.  Stemonitis  ni^rescens  Rcx. 

1891.     Stciitonitis  nii^rcsccns.  Rex,  Proc,  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  392. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  upon  a  common  hypothallus,  erect, 
cylindric,  stipitatc  ;  stipe  black,  extremely  short,  about  half  a 
millimetre;  columella  reaching  the  apex;  capillitium  violet  black, 
darker  near  the  surface,  forming  a  complete  superficial  net  at 
the  lower  part  of  the  sporangium  only,  elsewhere  irregular  or 
vanishing ;  spore-mass  nearly  black ;  single  spores  violet  black 
under  the  lens,  the  epispore  spinulose  and  reticulate,  about  8  ft. 

The  author  of  this  species  remarks :  '*  This  species  is  note- 
worthy for  its  comparatively  short  stipes,  its  very  spinulose 
spores,  and  its  black  or  nearly  black  color,  the  slight  violet  tint 
being  only  apparent  on  close  inspection,  especially  in  fresh 
moist  specimens." 

It  is  a  small  but  very  beautiful  form,  at  first  sight  to  be 
mistaken  for  a  short  wS".  inaxivia,  though  much  more  intensely 
black.  The  capillitium  is  concolorous,  the  inner  network  of 
rather  few  open  meshes,  the  outer  of  large  hexagonal  openings, 
the  arcuate  threads  of  which  are  remarkable  for  the  size,  and 
especially  the  number,  of  the  peridial  processes,  as  many  as  five 
or  six  sometimes  appearing  along  one  side  of  a  single  mesh. 
The  stipe  is  very  short,  and  the  columella  runs  as  a  straight, 
gradually  diminishing  axis  to  the  very  apex  of  the  sporangium. 
Total  height  5  mm, 

Pennsylvania. 

4.  Stemonitis  maxima  Schwcinita. 

ri.ATic  VI.,  Figs.  4,  4  (/,  4  /'. 
1834.     Stemonitis  maxima  Schw.,  A^.  A.  P.,  p.  260,  No.  2349. 

Sporangia  in  more  or  loss  widely  scattered  tufts  at  first  dark 


STEMONIT/S 


117 


brown  or  purple  black,  at  length  gray,  always  with  a  purplish 
tinge,  long,  cylindric,  even,  10-15  mm.  in  height,  stipitate;  stipe 
polished,  black  and  shining,  about  one-fourth  the  total  height, 
expanded  below  into  a  thin  hypothallus,  which  is  continuous, 
transparent,  shining;  columella  dissipated  near  the  apex;  capil- 
litium  consisting  of  an  inner  network  of  very  loose,  open 
structure,  an  outer  net  of  small  (14-56  fi)  meshes  more  or  less 
abundantly  supplied  with  projecting  peridial  processes  ;  spores 
dark  violaceous,  the  surface  reticulate,  7-8  /x. 

This  commonest  American  species  is  probably  represented 
in  Europe  by  S.  dictyospora  Rost.  The  rough-netted  epis]:)ore 
instantly  distinguishes  it.  The  sporangia  are  long  and  slender 
in  tufts,  spreading  from  the  centre.  The  inner  network  of 
rich  brown  threads  tends  to  show  expanded  nodes,  sometimes 
the  threads  are  thickened  throughout.  The  columella  often 
fails  of  reaching  the  apex  of  the  sporangium,  becoming  com- 
pletely dissolved  in  capillitial  branches.  The  peridium  is  rarely 
seen.  The  Plasmodium  is  opaque,  white ;  very  common  on 
decaying  logs  of   Tilia  mncricana. 

Widely  distributed,  cosmopolitan. 

S.  castillensis  Mucbr.,  from  Nicaragua,  Bull.  Nat.  Hist.  loxva, 
Vol.  II.,  p.  381,  may  Ve  regarded  as  a  very  large  and  stout  vari- 
ety of  the  present  species,  S.  maxima  castillensis.  The  inner 
capillitial  net  is  made  up  of  very  stout,  dark  brown  threads, 
very  much  dilated  at  the  nodes ;  the  surface  meshes  are  also 
much  larger  than  in  the  type ;  the  spores  as  in  5.  maxima,  but 
with  reticulations  more  pronounced. 


,  I " 


1 


\i 


H 


) 


\\ 


> 

I  Mr: 


"A 


m 


5.    Stemoxitis  virginiensis  Rcx. 

iSgi.     St  e  mo  nit  is  virginiensis  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  P-  391' 

Sporangia  erect,  gregarious,  from  a  common  hypothallus, 
generally  clustered,  cylindric  or  elongate-ovate,  stipitate ;  stipe 
black,  shining  ;  columella  reaching  the  apex,  where  it  blends 
with  the  capillitium ;  capillitium  delicate,  the  meshes  of  the  net 
small,  scarcely  greater  than  the  diameter  of  the  spores  ;  spore- 


i 


ii8 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 


^\ 


/  •■ 


\h 


K 


U'l 


in 


mass  umber  brown ;  cpisporcs  reticulated,  with  ten  or  twelve 
meshes  to  the  hemisi)here,  5-7  /x. 

This  is  a  beautiful,  and,  as  it  seems  to  us,  a  very  distinct, 
species.  The  markings  on  the  epispore  are  sufficient  to  iden- 
tify it.  These  are  quite  unlike  anything  else  in  the  order. 
The  spores  are  not  simply  reticulate,  they  are  banded  as  the 
spores  of  Tricliia  favoginca,  for  example.  In  habit,  size  of 
the  sporangia,  and  capillitial  branching,  this  species  recalls 
Coniatricha  typJiina  Roth.  All  the  sporangia  examined  are, 
however,  plainly  Stcmonitis  in  type,  possessing  the  character- 
istic superficial  net. 

Virginia. 

6.    Stemonitis  morgani  Peck. 

Plate  VI.,  Figs.  6,  6  a,  6  c,  7,  7  a. 

1880.     Stemonitis  mordant  Peck,  Bot.  Gas.,  V  ,  p.  33. 

1894.     Stemonitis  splendens  Rost.,  Lister,  Mycetosoa,  p.  112  (in  part). 

Sporangia  clustered  irregularly,  sometimes  forming  patches 
several  centimetres  in  extent,  rich  purple  brown  in  mass,  cylin- 
dric,  long,  15-18  mm.,  stipitate;  stipe  black,  polished,  shining, 
rising  from  a  common  hypothallus,  which  extends  as  a  thin 
silvery  film  beneath  the  entire  coloring,  but  does  not  transcend 
its  limits ;  columella  black,  percurrent,  sparingly  branched ; 
capillitium  of  fuscous  threads,  within  forming  a  network  very 
open,  the  branches  scarcely  anastomosing  until  they  reach  the 
surface  where  they  form  the  usual  net  of  small  meshes,  pretty 
uniform  in  size,  and  presenting  very  few  small,  inconspicuous 
peridial  processes;  spores  brown,  very  minutely  warted,  about 
8  ^l. 

This  elegant  species  occurs  not  rarely  on  rotten  wood,  usually 
in  protected  situations,  although  sometimes  on  the  exposed  sur- 
faces of  its  habitat.  The  sporangia  attain  with  us  unusual 
height,  sometimes  2  cm.  ;  plasmodia,  3-8  cm.,  in  diameter.  The 
clear  brown  tufts  appear  in  fall,  marvels  of  graceful  elegance 
and  beauty.  At  sight,  easily  recognizable  by  the  large  size  and 
rich  color.     In  Iowa  it  is  almost  universally  present  on  fallen 


STEM0i\7T/S 


119 


stems  of  Acer  saccharinuin  Linn.,  and  it  appears  to  be  widely 
distributed. 

New  luigland  to  Iowa,  South  Dakota,  Washington,  and  Brit- 
ish America. 

The  Plasmodium  is  white  on  maple  stems,  more  creamy  on 
stems  of  linden,  on  which  wood  it  is  more  rarely  found. 

7.    Stemonitis  fenestrata  Rcx. 

1890.     Stemonitis  baiierlinii  f.  fenestrata  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  36. 

Sporangia  aggregated,  in  tufts  an  inch  or  more  in  diameter, 
rich  purple  brown,  on  a  common  hypothallus,  more  or  less  erect, 
stipitate,  tall,  about  2  cm.,  slender,  triangular  in  section  ;  stipe 
black,  about  one-third  the  total  height,  passing  into  a  slender 
columella  which  is  lateral  in  position,  not  central,  but  little 
branched,  continued  almost  to  the  apex;  the  capillitium  con- 
sisting almost  entirely  of  the  peripheral  net,  which  presents 
meshes  of  unusual  uniformity  of  size  and  shape ;  spores  in  mass 
brown,  colorless  by  transmitted  light,  nearly  smooth,  6-7.5  /*• 

The  remarkable  shape  of  the  sporangium  and  the  peculiar 
regularity  of  the  surface  net,  the  lateral  columella,  all  combine 
here  to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  distinct  species.  Dr.  Rcx 
referred  this  to  vS.  baucrlinii  Mass.,  at  that  time  an  imqucstioned 
species.  Mr.  Lister  has  since  mixed  this  with  S.  splcndcns,  so 
that  there  is  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  record  the  American  form, 
which  certainly  bears  no  resemblance  to  European  specimens 
of  5.  splcndcns.  The  resemblance,  as  pointed  out  b\-  Dr.  Rcx, 
lies  with  ^.  morgani. 

The  long,  slender,  simple  columella  is  not  only  lateral,  but 
occupies  indeed  the  sharp  vertical  angle  of  the  triangular,  pris- 
matic sporangium.  Furthermore,  the  sporangium  is  at  maturity 
strangely  twisted,  so  that  the  columella  in  its  ascent  accom- 
pUshes  one  or  more  spiral  turns.  In  forms  collected  by  Dr.  Rex, 
which  seemed  to  him  most  nearly  to  agree  with  Massee's  spe- 
cies, the  inner  capillitium  is  more  abundant,  but  the  character 
of  the  columella  just  the  same. 

Fairmount  Park,  Pennsylvania. 


{■<}■ 


I20 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SIJME-MOL'LDS 


8.    STr.MoNiTis  wkhukki  Rcx. 

V\.\\v.  XI.,  I'i^'s,  6,  7,  8. 
1 891.     Stciiionitis  lucbbcri  Rcx,  Proc.  Phil,  .lead.,  p.  390. 

Sjioranj^ia  clustered,  usually  in  small  tufts,  rusty  brown  in 
color,  8-10  mm.,  including  the  stipe,  which  is  jet  black,  shinin<^, 
and  much  expanded  at  the  base ;  hypothallus  continuous,  well- 
developed,  a  thin,  transparent  pellicle  ;  columella  black,  taper- 
\\v^  upward,  giving  off  at  intervals  the  capillitial  branches,  and 
beconimg  dissipated  just  below  the  obtuse  apex  ;  inner  capillitial 
network  very  open,  the  branches  far  apart,  anastomosing  but  a 
few  times  before  breaking  ir^to  the  surface  net  to  form  large, 
irregular  meshes,  50-125  ft;  spores  minutely  roughened,  fuscous, 

8-9  IX. 

Of  much  the  same  general  color  as  5.  morgani,  but  very 
different  in  jiroportions  and  internal  structure.  Especially  dis- 
tinguished from  both  5.  morgani,  S.  fcrntginea^  etc.,  by  its  large- 
meshed  net  and  general  coarse  appearance. 

Dr.  Rex  describes  the  spores  as  "  ferruginous  in  mass."  In 
older  specimens  this  color  is  not  so  evident. 

Ohio,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kansas. 


9.    Stemonitis  axifera  {Bull.)  Macby. 

1791.     Trichia  axifera  Ball.,  Champ,  de  la  Fr.,  p.  118,  tab.  477. 
18 1 8.    Stctiionitis  ferriiginea  Ehren.,  Syl.  Myc.  Berol.,  p.  20;   et  auct. 
Europ.,  Americ.  non. 

1874.    Stemonitis  herbatica  Peck,  Rep.  N.  Y.  Miis.,  XXVI.,  p.  75. 

Sporangia  clustered,  in  scattered  tufts,  cylindric,  obtuse,  pal- 
lid ferruginous,  stipitate  or  sometimes  nearly  sessile  ;  stipe  fus- 
cous or  jet  black,  only  slightly  expanded  below,  much  shorter 
th?-i  the  columella  ;  hypothallus  scanty  or  none;  columella  les- 
sening upward,  sometimes  attaining  the  apex  of  the  sporangium, 
sometimes  dissolved  in  capillitial  threads  some  distance  below ; 
capillitium  of  rich  brown  threads  forming  the  usual  inner  net- 
work of  medium  density,  with  many  wide  expanded  nodes, 
the  surface  net  made  up  of  delicate,  almost  colorless  threads 
surrounding  small  polygonal  meshes ;  spore-mass  ferruginous, 


STEMOX/T/S 


121 


m 


spores  by  transmitted  light  very  pale,  brownish,  minutely  warted, 
7-9  /Lt.     "  Plasmodium  lemon  yellow." 

This  is  .S".  fcynigiiwa  Ehrenb.  as  known  in  Europe  ;  the  form 
hitherto  known  by  this  name  in  America,  will  be  referred  to  in 
connection  with  the  description  of  Species  No.  10.  The  species 
as  here  described  includes  S.  hcrbatica  Peck,  which  is  doubtless 
our  eastern  representative  of  the  form. 

On  the  Pacific  coast  the  species  is  not  uncommon  from  Mon- 
terey to  Seattle,  and  affords  another  illustration  of  the  oft-noted 
fact  that  forms  along  the  Pacific  side  of  the  continent  more 
closely  resemble  those  of  Europe  than  do  those  of  the  Atlantic 
seaboard. 

BuUiard's  name  is  here  adopted  as  the  earliest  that  can  with 
any  certainty  be  applied.  His  figure  can  refer  to  no  other 
European  specimen.  5.  typJiina  of  Wildenow  is,  we  think, 
rightfully  regarded  as  synonymous  with  S.  typhoidcs  Bull,  See 
Persoon,  Obs.,  I.,  p.  57, 

10.    Stemonitis  smithii  Macbr. 

1893.  Stemonitis  smithii  }^\Achr.,  Bull.  Lab.  Nat.  II   t.  la.,  II.,  p.  381. 

1894.  Stemonitis  microspora  Lister,  Morg.,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  54. 

Sporangia  in  clusters,  close  packed  and  erect,  not  spreading, 
bright  ferruginous  prior  to  spore  dispersal,  cylindric,  stipitate, 
of  varying  height ;  stipe  jet  black,  shining,  about  one-third  the 
total  height ;  hypothallus  generally  well  developed ;  columella 
black,  gradually  tapering,  at  length  dissolving  in  capillitial 
threads  and  net  some  distance  below  the  diminished  plumose 
apex ;  capillitium  of  fuscous  threads,  the  inner  network  of 
sparingly  united  branches  uniformly  thickened,  the  surface  net 
composed  of  small,  regular,  polygonal  meshes,  the  peridial  pro- 
cesses few ;  spore-mass  bright  ferruginous,  spores  by  trans- 
mitted light  pale,  almost  colorless,  smooth,  5-7  /a. 

The  species  as  now  constituted  includes  forms  varying  in 
size  from  2.5-25  mm. !  The  common  form  heretofore  known 
everywhere  in  America  as  5.  fcrniginca  is  from  10-15  mm. 
high.      The  type  to  which   the  specific  name   S.  smithii  was 


I 


;i 


\  ; 


\ 


■li- 
"if I 


it! 


If: 


122 


THE  NORTH  AMF.RfCAlSr  SU.UE-MOULDS 


\     i  \ 


applied  is  2.5  mm.  high  and  has  spores  4-5  /a.  This  is  now 
made  .0  constitute  one  extreme  of  a  series  of  which  great  speci- 
mens from  the  coniferous  forests  of  Washington  constitute  the 
other.  The  phismodium  of  the  phase  common  in  the  Mississippi 
valley  is  of  a  peculiar  greenish  white,  difficult  to  de.'^cribe.  It  is 
the  color  of  a  green  lemon,  perhaps  "sap  green"  describes  it; 
the  Plasmodium  of  the  Nicaraguan  type  is  still  unknown. 

Widely  distributed.  From  Alaska  to  Nicaragua,  from  New 
England  to  Oregon  and  Washington. 

II.    Stemonitis  carolinensis  Macb)'.,  nom.  nov. 

ri.ATK  XIII.,   I'i},'.  5;    Pl.ATK  XVIIl.,  Fig.  I. 
1894.     Stemonitis  tenerrima  B.  and  C,  AIorg.,/(y«r.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  53. 

Sporangia  tufted  in  scattered  clusters,  small,  slender,  cylindric 
but  tapering  from  the  apex,  at  first  ferruginou':  then  ashen  or 
purplish,  stipitate  ;  the  stipe  short,  black  and  shining,  one-fourth 
the  total  height  or  less,  even ;  hypothallus  well  developed, 
black  or  very  dark  brown ;  columella  black,  gradually  diminish- 
ing, at  length  dissipated  some  distance  below  the  clavate  or 
acuminate  apex  of  the  sporangium ;  capillitium  dense,  the  inner 
of  many  scarcely  expanded,  pallid,  freely  anastomosing  branches, 
the  outer  a  net  of  very  small  meshes  often  less  than  the  spores, 
3-15  /A,  peridial  processes  imperceptible;  spore-mass  pale  fer- 
ruginous, spores  by  transmitted  light  pale  violaceous  brown, 
smooth,  6~y  fx. 

Very  closely  related  to  the  preceding,  but  recognizable  by 
its  proportionately  more  slender  sporangia,  paler  color,  and 
especially  by  its  dense  capillitium  and  remarkably  close-meshed 
net. 

This  species  is  well  described  by  Morgan,  /.c,  but  from  the 
original  description  by  Curtis  of  5.  tcnc7Tima,  Am.  your.,  VI., 
p.  352,  and  from  the  account  of  the  same  species  given  by 
Lister,  op.  cit.,  p.  122,  it  is  plain  that  we  have  here  to  do  with  a 
form  entirely  unlike  that  of  the  English  authors.  A  new  name 
is  accordingly  suggested.  By  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Morgan  we 
have  specimens  both  from  South  Carolina  and  Ohio. 


COMATRICIIA 


123 


12.    Stemonitis  PALLinv  Wifii^atc. 

I'l.ATK.  XIII.,  I'iK'.  J:    I'lAiK  XVIII.,  Fig.  2. 
1897.     Stemonitis  pallida  Winj;..  iV.  A.  /'.,  Ell.  ami  Kv.,  No.  3498. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  or  somewhat  clustered,  erect,  cylindric 
obtuse,  short,  blacicish  brown,  rubescent,  becoming  pallid,  stipi- 
tate;  stipe  short,  black,  polished,  rising  from  a  thin,  brown,  or 
iridescent  hypothallus;  columella  percurrent,  ceasing  abruptly  at 
the  apex ;  capillitium  filling  the  interior  with  abundant  branches 
which  form  at  the  surface  a  close-meshed  net,  little  developed 
above,  making  the  apex  very  blunt ;  spores  in  mass  dark  brown, 
by  transmitted  light  dusky,  nearly  smooth,  7.5  ft. 

This  species  is  well  recognized  at  sight,  among  the  fuscous 
forms,  by  its  scattered  erect  habit.  In  color  it  is  not  unlike 
^.  maxima^  but  has  an  added  reddish  tinge.  In  form  it  is 
peculiar  by  virtue  of  the  blunt  rounded  apex  which  seems  to  be 
a  constant  character.  The  spores  under  moderate  lens  are 
perfectly  smooth,  under  the  -^^  they  present  very  delicate  low 
scattered  papillae. 

Apparently  not  common.     Pennsylvania. 

3.   Comatricha  {Pmiss)  Rost. 

1851.     Comatricha  Preuss,  Liniia:a,  XXIV.,  p.  140. 
1873.     Comatricha  Rostafinski,  Versuch,  p.  7. 

Sporangia  cylindric  or  globose,  .stipitate ;  stipe  prolonged 
upward  to  form  a  more  or  .  jss  extended  and  tapering  columella 
bearing  branches  on  every  side,  which  by  repeated  divisions 
and  reunions  form  the  capillitium  ;  ultimate  branch-tips  free, 
not  supporting  a  surface  net  parallel  to  the  peridial  wall; 
peridium  evanescent,  probably  sometimes  not  developed  at  all. 

The  genus  Coviatricha  was  set  off  from  Stciiwnitis  by  the 
joint  effort  of  Preuss  ( 185 1)  and  Rostafinski  (1873-5).  Preuss 
included  in  his  genus,  ConiatricJia,  alien  forms,  and  besides 
failed  to  give  an  accurate  definition ;  included,  however,  in  his 
list  some  species  which  have  since  been  known  by  his  generic 
name. 


I 

I 


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i 


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nij 

'I 


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i;i«' 


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i 


124 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SI.IME-MOULDS 


The  distinction  between  the  two  f;enera  is  almost  an  artificinl 
one,  and  species  arc  sometimes  arbitrarily  assigned  to  one  j^enus 
or  the  other.  The  diagnosis  in  any  case  turns  upon  the  pres- 
ence or  absence  of  a  surface  net,  formed  (in  S(i»ioiiiiis)  by 
the  anastomosin{,f  of  the  ultimate  divisions  of  the  capillitial 
branches.  In  Conuitric/m  the  anastomosing  is  general,  from 
the  columella  out,  and  is  not  specialized  at  the  surface. 

Recent  attempts  to  reunite  the  genera  here  compared  seem 
to  result  in  no  apparent  advantage.  The  genera  come  very 
near  together,  but  their  separation  along  the  line  suggested  by 
Rostafinski  remains  convenient. 


II ' 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Comatricha. 

A.  Sporangia  closely  crowded. 

a.  Ohovate,  tufts  small  .... 

b.  Elongate,  ferruginous,  tufts  large 

B.  Sporangia  various,  generally  scattered  more  or  less 

a.  Capillitium  very  lax,  the  branching  open. 

1.  Sporangia  much  prolonged,  10-12  mm. 

2.  Sporangia  shorter,  capillitium  irregular 

3.  Sporangium  minute,  ovate 

b.  Capillitium  dense. 

1.  Sporangia  very  small,  1-2  mm. 

i.   Cylindric. 

*  Nearly  sessile 
**  Evidently  stipitate . 
ii.   Spherical  or  ellipsoidal  . 
iii.   Ovate  acuminate    . 

2.  Sporangia  larger. 

i.   Black 

ii.   Pale  ferruginous    • 


I.  C  ccespitosa 

II.  C.Jlaccida 
widely. 

2.  C  longa 

•   .  'yrci^ulatis 

.     4.  C.  laxa 


9.  C.  pcrsoonii 

7.  C.  stcmonitis 

.   5.  C.  nigra 

6.  C,  pulchella 

.   10.  C.  suksdorfii 
8.  C.  equalis 


M'    \ 


I.   Comatricha  ccespitosa  Sturgis. 


1893. 


Plate  XI.,  Figs,  12,  13,  14. 
Comatricha  cwspitosa  Sturg.,  Bot.  Caz.,  XVIII.,  p.  186. 


Sporangia  densely  crowded  or  ccspitose,  sub-sessile  or  short 
stipitate,  clavate,  1-1.5  mm.  high,  the  pcridium  gray  iridescent 
vi'iXh  blue  tints,  comparatively  permanent  but  finally  disappear- 
ing ;  columella  attaining  two-thirds  to  three-fourths  the  height 


COMATRICHA 


125 


of  the  sporan^num,  i^ivin-;  rise  throuj^^hout  its  lcn.L;th  to  the 
dense  bhickish  capilHtiuin  ;  h\  pothallus  dcHcato,  inconspicu- 
ous;  capilHtium,  the  main  branches  thick  at  tlie  point  ot  oriijin, 
fre([uently  anastomosing,  and  becominj^  gradually  Ihimier  toward 
the  siM"face  of  the  sporangium,  the  tips  pointed,  tree,  forming  no 
network;  spores  blackish  violet  in  mass,  by  transmitted  light 
pale  brownish  violet,  rough,  9.5-13  y^. 

A  very  distinct  and  curious  si)ecies.  The  sporangia  arc 
densely  crowded,  though  by  the  nature  of  habitat  somewhat 
tufted.  The  shape  of  the  individual  sporangium  is  c[uite  uni- 
formly clavate  or  obovatc,  decidedly  truncate  above.  The 
spores  are  uniformly  verruculose  and  plainly  une(|ual.  Lister, 
Mycctozoa,  p.  92,  includes  this  species  under  Dinc/ica  t/ionidsii 
Rex.  This  is  plainly  a  mistake  as  Mr.  Lister's  figures,  I'l. 
XXXVL,  B,  d-Cy  show.  These  figures  illustrate  our  present 
species,  while  the  associated  figures  just  as  clearly  exhibit  some 
of  the  characteristic  features  of  D.  thomasii.  The  two  forms 
arc  not  at  all  alike.  The  DiacJica  is  surcharged  in  stipe  and 
columella  with  large  orange  granules  containing  lime.  These, 
according  to  experiments  conducted  by  Dr.  Sturgis,  are  com- 
posed of  minute  particles  of  organic  matter  held  together  by 
small  quantities  of  lime.  Nothing  of  this  kind  is  discoverable 
in  C.  cQjspitosa.  The  spores  of  the  last-named  species  are  uni- 
formly warted  as  in  C.  pnlcJiclla ;  the  spores  of  Diaclica  tho- 
masii show  double  warting  as  in  C.  typhina.  The  hypothallus 
in  C.  ccvspitosa  is  thin  and  delicate  as  in  CouiatricJui  generally ; 
the  hypothallus  in  Diachca  thomasii  is  just  as  plainly  Diachca- 
like,  vcnulose,  and  calcareous. 

On  moss  and  lichens.  Wood's  Holl,  Massachusetts  ;  North 
Carolina. 

2.       COMATRICHA    LONGA    Pcch. 

Pi.A I K  VI.,   I'igs.  2,   2  rt,  2  /'. 
i8go.     Comatricha  loitga  Peck,  Kcp.  iV.  V.  J/us.,  XLIII.,  p.  24. 
Sporangia  crowded  in  depressed  masses  or  tufts,  black,  long, 
cylindric,   even,  stipitate ;   stipe  black,   shining,  generally  very 


>: 'U 


}  < 


IV 


126 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SI  LME-MOULDS 


I 


short;  hypothallus  well  developed,  black;  columella  black, 
slender,  weak,  generally  dissipated  some  distance  below  the 
apex;  cipillitium  of  slender  brown  or  dusky  threads  anasto- 
mosing to  form  an  open  network  next  the  columella,  but  ex- 
tended outwardly  in  form  of  long  free  slender  branchlcts,  now 
and  then  dichotomously  forked ;  spore-mass  blue  black,  spores 
bv  transmitted  light  dark  brown,  globose,  warted,  about  9  /u. 

A  very  remarkable  species.  Rare  in  the  w^st,  more  com- 
mon, as  it  appears,  in  the  eastern  states.  The  sporangia  occur 
in  tufts  an  inch  or  more  wide,  springing  generally  from  crevices 
in  the  bark  of  decaying  logs,  especially  willow  and  elm,  in 
swampy  places.  The  sporangia  are  remarkable  for  their  great 
length.  Generally  about  20-25  rnm.,  specimens  occasionally 
reach  50  mm. !  The  capillitial  branches  are  so  remote  that 
the  spores  are  scarcely  retained  by  the  capillitium  at  all.  Well 
described  and  figured  by  the  author  of  the  species,  Forty-third 
Rep.  N.  V.  State-  Museum,  p.  24,  PI.  3. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa. 

3.     COMATRICHA    IRREGULARIS    ReX. 

1 89 1.     Comatricha  irren^uiin's  Rex.,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad., p.  393. 

Sporangia  crowded  in  flocculent  tufts,  very  dark  brown  or 
black,  semi-erect  or  drooping,  4-5  mm.  in  height,  irregularly 
cylindric,  variable,  stipitate ;  stipe  black,  distinct,  often  one-half 
the  total  height;  hypothallus  well  developed,  brown,  shining; 
columella  central,  slender,  flexuous,  reaching  the  apex,  where 
it  blends,  by  branching,  with  the  capillitium;  capillitium  loose, 
open,  composed  of  arcuate  threads  which  radiate  from  the  colu- 
mella, and  are  joined  together,  forming  a  central,  irregular 
reticulation  of  large  meshes,  brown,  paler  toward  the  surface, 
where  the  free  ends  are  sometimes  colorless  ;  spore-mass  black, 
spores  by  transmitted  light  brovn,  minutely  warted,  7-8  /i*. 

Related,  no  doubt,  to  C.  /ou^i^a,  but  differing  in  habit,  stature 
as  in  the  texture  and  structure  of  the  capillitium.  In  C.  lo)iga 
the  inner  net  is  extremely  simple, — a  row  or  two  of  meshes  at 
most,  and  the  radiating  branches  are  long  and  straight ;  in  the 


s    i'-: 


COMATRICHA 


127 


species  before  us  the  inner  network  is  well  developed,  and 
the  radiating  branches  proportionately  shorter  and  abundantly 
branching,  with  pale  or  white  free  tips. 

Generally,  though  not  always,  found  growing  in  the  crevices 
of  the  bark  on  fallen  logs  of  various  deciduous  trees.  Septem- 
ber.    Not  common. 

This  is  thought  to  be  C.  crypta  Schw.,  N.  A.  F.,  2351  ;  but 
the  description  under  that  number  does  not  make  clear  what 
form  Schweinitz  had  before  him,  the  present  species  or  C.  loiiga, 
and  the  herbarium  specimen  of  Schweinitz  is  "  utterly  lost "  ; 
the  later  specific  name  is  accordingly  adopted. 

New  En  , land  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south  to  Kansas 
and  Texas. 

4.     COMATRICHA    LAXA    Rostafiuski. 

Plate  V.,  Fij,'s.  5,  5  a. 

1875.  Cotnatricha  laxa  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  201. 

1876.  Badhamia  penetralis  Cooke  and  Ell.,  Grev.,  V.,  p.  49. 

1877.  Lamprodcnna  ellisiana  Cooke.  Myx.  U.  S,,  p.  397. 

1891.      Cotnatricha  ellisiana  (Cooke)  Ell.  and  Ev.,  N.  A.  F.,  2696. 
1894.     Coiiuitricha  ellisii  Morgan,  Join .  Cin.  Soc.  p.  49. 

Sporangia  scattered,  gregarious,  sub-globose  or  short  cylin- 
dric,  and  obtuse,  dusky  stipitate  ;  stipe  short,  black,  tajiering 
rapidly  upward  from  an  exi^nided  base ;  hypothallus  scant  or 
none ;  columella  erect,  rigid,  sometimes  reaching  rearly  to  the 
apex  of  the  sporangium,  sometimes  dichotomously  branched  a 
little  below  the  summit,  before  blending  into  the  common  cajnl- 
litium ;  capillitium  lax,  of  slender,  horizontal  branches,  anasto- 
mosing at  infrequent  intervals  and  ending  in  short,  free  tips; 
spores  pallid,  nearly  smooth,  7-9.5  /u.. 

A  very  minute,  delicate  little  species,  about  \\  mm.  high;  the 
stipe  half  the  total  height.  In  general  appearance  the  shorter 
forms  of  the  species  resemble  slightly  C.  nii^ra,  but  are  distin- 
guished by  a  much  shorter  stipe  and  much  more  oj)en  capilli- 
tium. The  sporangia  of  C.  fiii^nj  mounted  on  long  capillary 
stipes  always  droop  more  or  less;  the  sporangia  of  the  present 


\\ 


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u 


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I: 


128 


7J/E  AOA'TH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


species  stand  rigidly  erect  The  sporangia  vary  in  form  and 
in  the  branching  of  the  columella.  In  the  more  globose  phases, 
the  columella  r  .most  always  shows  a  peculiar  dichotomy  near 
the  apex ;  in  the  cylindric  types,  this  peculiar  division  fails. 
In  fact,  the  shape  is  determined  by  this  peculiarity  of  branching 
as  affects  the  columella. 

The  species  in  this  country  has  received  various  names,  but 
so  far  as  can  be  determined,  all  apply  to  the  same  thing,  and 
comparison  of  specimens  from  Mr.  Ellis  with  those  from  Europe 
show  the  correctness  of  the  nomenclature  here  adopted. 

5.    CoMATRiCHA  NIGRA  {Pevs.)  Sckroctev. 

Plate  XI.,  Figs,  i,  2,  3. 

1791.  Stemonitis  nigra  Pers.,  Gmel.,  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  1467. 

iSoi.  S/e//!0>ii/is  oTaia,  var.  nigra  Pers.,  Syn.,  p.  i8g. 

1863.  Stemonitis  friesiana  De  By.,  Rab.  Eur.  Fung.,  No.  568. 

1875.  Coiiiatricha  friesiana  (De  By.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  200. 

1889.  Coiiiatricha  nigra  (Pers.;  Schroeter,  Pits,  schles.,  I.,  p.  118. 

Sporangia  scattered,  ferruginous  or  dark  brown,  globose  or 
ovoid,  stipitate ;  stipe  long,  hair-like,  tapering  upward,  black ; 
hypothallus  none ;  columella  rapidly  diminished  toward  the  top, 
at  length  dissipated ;  capillitium  of  slender  flexuous  threads, 
radiating  horizontally,  repeatedly  branching  and  anastomosing 
to  form  an  intricate  dense  network,  from  the  surface  of  whicli 
project  a  few  short  hook-like  peridial  processes;  spore-mass 
black,  spores  by  transmitted  light  dark  violaceous,  smooth  or 
nearly  so,  7-10  /u. 

This  species  is  easily  recognized  by  its  almost  globose  5  po- 
rangia  mounted  on  long  slender  stocks.  These  are  2  or  3  mm. 
high  and  generally  persist,  as  Persoon  noticed,  a  long  time  after 
the  sporangium  has  fallen.  The  sporangia  are  at  first  black; 
after  spore  disposal  pale  ferruginous.  In  shape  they  vary  from 
ovaie  to  spherical.  Sometimes  they  are  umbilicate  below,  so 
that  a  vertical  section  would  be  obcordate.  Care  must  be  taken 
to  distinguish  the  present  species  from  blown-out  forms  of 
LaviProdcnna. 


COMATRICHA  ^20 

Not  common.     Probably  overlooked  by  reason  of  its  minute- 
ness. 

Massachusetts,   Pennsylvania,    Ohio,  Iowa,  Colorado,  North 
Carolina. 

Rostafinski  calls  this  C.  fricsiana,  a  name  suggested  by 
De  Bary.  By  this  name  the  species  has  since  been  commonly 
designated.  Lister  writes  C.  obtusata  Preuss ;  but  C.  ohtusata 
Preuss,  as  figured  by  that  author  (Sturm's  Dcutsch.  F/.,  PI.  70), 
is  surely  more  likely  Encrthcucma  papillata,  and  the  author  says 
in  his  description  "capillitio  vertice  soli  innato."  Persoon  cer- 
tainly recognized  the  species,  and  his  description,  though  brief, 
is  yet  applicable  to  no  other  European  species.  There  seems 
no  reason  why  the  name  he  gave  should  not  abide. 

6.     COMATRICHA    PULCHELLA    (Z?rt^.)  7e<?j-^. 

Plate  XIII.,  Fig.  4. 

1839.     Stcmonitis  piilchella  Babington,  Trans.  Lin.  Soc,  p.  32. 
1841.     Coviatricha  pulchclla  Bab.,  Ann.  Ma^.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  vi.,  n   4^1 
PI.  XII.,  w.a.b.  '  '  P-4J1, 

1876.     Comatricha pulchella  (Bab.)  Rost.,  Mon.  App.,  p.  27. 
1848.     Stemonitis  tenerrima  Curtis,  Am.  Jour.,  VI.,  p.  352, 
1873.     Stemonitis  tenerrima  B.  and  C,  Crev.,  II.,  p.  69. 

Sporangia  very  minute,  i  mm.  high,  scattered,  ovate  or  ovate 
cylindric  acuminate,  pale  brown  or  ferruginous,  stipitate  ;  stipe 
short,  black,  nearly  even  ;  hypothallus  none  ;  columella  straight, 
gradually  tapering,  reaching  almost  if  not  quite  to  the  ai)e.\'  of 
the  sporangium ;  capillitium  dense,  a  network  of  flexuous  brown 
threads,  rather  broad  within,  ending  in  slender  tips  without; 
spore-m.ass  brown,  spores  by  transmitted  light  pale  "  lilac  brown," 
or  pale  ferruginous,  minutely  but  uniformly  warted,  6-8  /u. 

A  rare  and  beautiful  little  species,  distinguished  at  sight  by 
its  peculiar  ovate  outline.  By  earlier  authors  it  seems  to  have 
been  confused  with  C.  nigra.  Cf.  Fries,  5.  ovata,  etc.  Rosta- 
finski describes  it  well,  but  creates  confusion  by  placing  5.  piil- 
chclla  Bab.  as  a  synonym,  a  mistake  corrected  as  far  as  was 
possible  in  the  Appendi.x,  p.  27.     C.  rnbcns  Lister,  from  Phila- 

K 


I  • 


!     *  . 


■i   I 


^{\ 


m 


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130 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAIV  SLIME-MOULDS 


delphia,  is  certainly  the  same  thing.  The  persistence  of  a 
minute  part  of  the  peridium  at  or  near  the  base  of  the  sporan- 
gium is  not  unusual,  and  seems  an  insufficient  basis  on  which  to 
found  a  species. 

Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina,  New  York,  Iowa. 


'+<!'>! 


I 


l;t 


Ji 


>: 


7.     COMATRICHA   STEMONITIS   {SCup.)  SkcldOH. 
ri.ATK  VI.,  Figs.  I,  I  rt,  I  /',  3  f,  3  (/. 

1772.  Mucor  sievionitis  Scopoli,  Fl.  Cam.,  II.,  p.  493-494. 

1774.  Miicor  stcntonitis  SchaetTer,  /cones.  Tad.,  CCXCV'II. 

1780.  Steiinniitis  typhina  Wiggcrs.  Prim.  Fl.  Hols.,  p.  116. 

1 791.  Trichia  typhoidcs  BuUiard,  Cliainp.  de  la  France,'^.  119,  t.  477,  II. 

1796.  Steinonitis  typhina  Persoon,  Myc.  Ohs.,  I.,  p.  57,  in  part. 

1805.  Stenionitis  typhoides  (Bull.)  D.  C,  /"/.  /•>.,  p.  257. 

1829.  Stcntonitis  typhoides  {\^\.'A\.)  Yx.,  Syst.  Myc.,\\\.,'^.  158. 

1873.  Coniatricha  typhoides  (Bull.)  Rost.,  Vers.,  p.  7. 

1875.  Coniatricha  typhina  {V'^Y^.)  Rost.,  JAw.,  p.  197. 

1895.  Coniatricha  stenionitis  (Scop.)  Sheldon,  J//««.  Z?^^.  ^Sy^^/.,  p.  473. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  scattered,  cylindric,  erect,  sometimes 
arcuate,  obtuse,  2-3  mm.  high,  at  first  silvery,  then  brown,  as 
the  peridium  vanishes,  stipitate ;  stipe  black,  about  one-half  the 
total  height  or  less  ;  hypothallus  distinct,  more  or  less  continu- 
ous, reddish  brown  ;  columella  tapering  upward,  black,  attaining 
more  or  less  completely  the  apex  of  the  sporangium  ;  capiliitium, 
arising  as  rather  stout  branches  of  the  capiliitium,  soon  taking 
the  form  of  slender,  flcxuous,  brownish  threads,  which  by  re- 
peated anastomosing  form  at  length  a  close  network,  almost  as 
in  Stcvionitis,  the  free,  ultimate  branches  very  delicate  and 
short ;  spore-mass  dark  brown ;  spores  by  transmitted  light, 
pale,  almost  smooth,  except  for  the  presence  of  a  few  scattered 
but  very  prominent  umbo-likc  warts,  of  which  four  or  five  may 
be  seen  at  one  time,  5-7.5  /x. 

This  is  our  most  common  North  American  species.  It  occurs 
everywhere  on  decaying  wood,  sometimes  in  remarkable  quan- 
tity, thousands  of  sporangia  at  a  time.  The  plasmodium,  watery 
white  in  color,  infests  preferably  very  rotten  logs  of  Qiicrcits,  on 
which  in  June  the  sporangia  rise  as  white  or  pallid  columns. 


COMATRICHA 


131 


The  peridium  is  exceedingly  delicate,  less  seldom  seen  here 
than  in  some  other  species,  but  likely  to  be  overlooked  entirely. 
The  spores  when  fresh  have  a  distinct  violet  or  bluish  tinge  ;  in 
old  specimens  they  are  almost  colorless.  In  any  case  they  are 
well  marked  by  the  large  umbonate  papilla:  already  referred  to. 

C.  typ/iina,  var.  Jicterospora  Rex,  differs  from  the  type  in 
several  particulars :  the  sporangia  manifest  a  closer  habi'  ;  the 
capillitium  is  made  up  of  more  slender  threads  and  forms  a  yet 
denser  network ;  the  spores  between  the  large  pai)ilkt;  are 
marked  by  a  more  or  less  perfectly  formed  reticulation. 

As  to  nomenclature,  this  is  our  old  friend  C.  tjphiiia  (Pers.) 
Rost.  It  should  be,  more  properly,  called  C.  typhiiia  Rost., 
for  it  is  not  Persoon's  species  exactly.  But  Scopoli,  I.e.,  by 
citing  Hall,  Gleditsch,  and  Micheli,  so  describes  our  form  as  to 
leave  small  doubt  that  he  had  before  him  our  common  species. 
Schaeffer's  figures  also  come  to  the  rescue,  which,  though  by  no 
means  satisfactory,  yet  can  probably  refer  to  no  other  species. 
Bulliard  gives  the  first  good  account  and  figure. 

Widely  distributed.  Maine  to  California,  and  from  British 
America  to  Nicaragua. 


I' 


A\ 


i.i 


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i   I 


8.     COMATRICHA    EQUALIS    Pcck. 

1890.     Cotnatricha  equalis  Peck.,  Rep.  JV.  V.  Miis.,  XXXI.,  p.  42. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  seldom  erect,  usually  inclined,  curved 
or  nodding,  dark  brown,  <^^  'indric,  acuminate-obtuse,  stipitate  \ 
stipe  about  half  the  total  height,  2-2I  mm.,  black,  polished, 
even ;  hypothallus  well  developed,  brown,  continuous ;  colu- 
mella black,  tapering  gradually,  and  attaining  almost  the 
summit  of  the  sporangium ;  capillitium  dense,  of  flcxuous 
tawny  threads  which,  by  repeated  branching,  form  an  intricate 
network,  the  free  extremities  numerous,  short,  and  pale ;  spores 
dark  violaceous,  distinctly  warted,  7.5-8  jx. 

A  very  graceful,  elegant  species,  related  tc  C.  pnlcJiclla  and 
C.  pcrsoonii,  but  distinct  by  its  much  greater  size  and  smaller 
spores.  The  specimens  before  show  us  the  perfection  of  beauty 
in  this  genus;  the  pohshed  stipe,  the  symmetrical  capillitium, 


:'} 


132 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


the  soft  purple  brown  tints,  are  remarkable,  and  enable  one  to 
recognize  the  form  at  sight. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Illinois. 


9.     COMATRICHA    PEKSOONII   Rost. 


'•'II 


■  \i  I' 


;f 


1875. 

1890. 

1888. 
1892. 

139- 


Coinatricha  pcrsoonii  Rost.,  Man.,  p.  201. 
ConKxtriclia  siihcccspitosa  Fock.,  Rep.  N.  V.  Mus.,  p.  25. 
Comatricha  gracilis  Wingate,  Ell.  and  Evcrh.,  N.  A.  F..  2094. 
Coinatricha pulchella  Bab.,  Macbr.,  /)'////.  Lat.  Nat.  Hist.  la.,  II., 


Sporangia  gregarious,  erect,  cylincjiic,  obtuse,  pale  brown, 
stipitate ;  stipe  short,  one-half  to  one-third  the  total  height, 
i-i^  mm.,  black,  slender,  even;  hypo*:hallus  thin,  scanty,  trans- 
parent or  white  ;  columella  black,  tapermg  gradually  to  the  ape.x, 
or  very  near  it ;  capillitiuni  very  dense,  formed  of  flexuous 
fuscous  threads,  branching  abundantly,  especially  outwardly, 
and  ending  in  numerous  short  free  tips ;  spores  covered  with 
distinct  but  scattered  warts,  pallid,  tinged  with  purple.     9-10  /x. 

This  species  in  form  and  stature  closely  resembles  C.  typJmiay 
but  differs  in  the  capillitial  structure  and  the  episporic  markings. 
In  these  particulars  it  more  nearly  corresponds  with  C.  pnlcJicUa, 
from  which  its  slender  cylindric  form  and  blunt,  sometimes 
widened,  apex  distinguishes  it,  and  with  C.  cqualis,  which  is  a 
very  much  larger  species,  and  has  smaller,  darker,  less  closely 
warted  spores.  C.  stibaEspitosa  Pk.  is  a  little  stouter  than  the 
type,  has  the  sporangia  wider,  but  the  spores  are  just  the  same. 

Not  common.  New  York,  Ontario,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Washington.     On  rotten  wood,  August. 


10.    CoMATRicHA  s\5V.ST)0R¥U  Ell.  and  Evcr/i. 

Platk  XI.,  Figs.  9,  10,  II. 


1882.     Stcvtonitis  suksdorfii  Ell.  and  Everh.,  Bull.  Washb.  Coll.,  Vol.  I., 


p.  5. 


1892.     Stemunitis  suksdorfii  Ell.  and  Everh.,  Mass.,  Mon.,  p.  76. 

Sporangia  scattered  in  small  tufts  or  gregarious,  cylindric, 
obtuse  at  both  ends,  widened  above,  black,  stipitate ;  stipe  jet 


COMATRICHA 


133 


black,  shining,  even,  about  one-half  the  total  height;  hypothallus 
not  continuous,  dark  brown ;  columella  black,  rather  slender, 
terminating  in  two  or  more  large  branches  just  below  the  ajiex  ; 
capiliitium  exceedingly  dense,  dark  fuscous  or  black,  the  rtexut)us 
threads  anastomosing  in  a  close  network,  with  abundant  free 
pallid  extremities ;  spores  in  mass,  blue  black,  by  transmitted 
light  fuscous  or  dark  violaceous  brown,  minutely  warted,  9-10  ix. 

Easily  recognizable  at  sight  by  its  sooty  color.  Entirely  unlike 
any  of  the  preceding.  The  type  of  the  capiliitium  is  that  of  C. 
pulcJicUa,  but  it  is  very  much  morj  dense  and  entirely  different 
in  color.  The  sporangia  are  widened  above,  and  fairly  truncate ; 
the  total  height  about  6  mm.  Found  on  the  bark  of  fallen  twigs 
of  Abies,  Larix,  etc.  Distributed  by  Ell.  and  Everh.  under  this 
name  as  an  cxsiccata. 

Washington,  Oregon,  Vancouver's  Island. 


\  1'   !•■ 


II.    CoMATRicHA  -FTukccink  {Listcv)  Morgiiu. 

1894.     Cotnatricha  flaccida  List.,  Morgan, /(^/ca-.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  51. 
1894.     Steinonitis  splendcns,  \2iX.  flaccida  List.,  Mycetozoa,  p.  112. 

Sporangia  semi-erect,  close  crowded  in  tufts  an  inch  or  two 
in  diameter,  ferruginous,  from  a  dark  brown  hypothallus,  sessile 
or  short  stipitate ;  columella  weak,  crooked,  percurrent,  gen- 
erally enlarged  irregularly  at  the  apex ;  capiliitium  of  few, 
slender,  brown  branches  which  anastomose  sparsely  and  irreg- 
ularly as  in  C.  irregularis,  and  present  when  freed  from  spores 
the  same  ( henille-like  appearance ;  spore-mass  ferruginous 
brown;  spcres  by  transmitted  light  bright  reddish  biown, 
mmutvly  warted,  8-10  /-t. 

An  entirely  distinct  species,  entirely  unlike  .S".  eonfliteus,  with 
which  Lister  associates  it;  color  different,  habit  different,  struc- 
ture different,  and  spores  different.  The  conjoined  columellas 
of  which  Mr.  Morgan  speaks,  as  also  the  membranous  apical 
attachments  of  Lister's  figure,  are  not  in  evidence  in  any  of  the 
specimens  before  us. 

Apparently  rare.  Ohio,  Washington,  Oregon,  on  logs  of 
coniferous  trees,  Colorado. 


134 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


W  ■ 


I 


4.   Diachea  Fries. 

1825.    Diachea  Fries,  Syst,  Orb.  Fe^.,  I.,  p.  143. 

Sporangia  distinct,  globose  or  cylindric,  the  pcridium  thin, 
iridescent,  stipitatc  ;  the  stipe  and  columella  surcharged  with 
lime,  white  or  yellowish,  rigid,  thick,  tapering  upward ;  capilli- 
tium  of  delicate  threads  free  from  lime,  radiating  from  various 
points  on  the  columella,  branching  and  anastomosing  as  in 
ComatricJia  to  form  a  more  or  less  intricate  network,  the  ulti- 
mate branchlets  supporting  the   peridial  wall. 

Rostafinski  placed  this  genus  near  the  Didyuiicce  on  account 
of  the  calcareous  columella  and  the  non-calcareous  capillitium. 
On  the  other  hand  the  structure  of  the  capillitium  and  the 
iridescent  simple  peridium  ally  Diachea  to  Lamprodcrma  and 
the  Stcmonitca; ;  the  only  distinction  being  the  calcareous  stem. 
It  is  simply  an  intermediate  genus  to  be  placed  here  more  con- 
veniently than  anywhere  else  in  what  is  of  necessity  a  linear 

arrangement. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Diachea. 

A,  Stipe  and  columella  white. 

a.  Sporangium  cylindric \,  D.  leucopoda 

b.  Sporangium  globose 7..  D.  splcndcns 

B.  Stipe  yellowish  or  orange 3. 


D,  tlioinasii 


I.    Diachea  leucopoda  {Bull.)  Rost. 

1 791.     Trichia  leucopodia  Bulliard,  Champ,  de  la  France,  PI.  502,  Fig.  2. 
1825.     Diachea  clegans  Fries,  Syst.  Orb.  Veg,,  I.,  p.  143. 
1875.     Diachea  leucopoda  (Bull.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  190. 

Sporangia  rather  closely  gregarious,  metallic  blue  or  purple 
iridescent,  cylindric  or  ellipsoidal,  obtuse,  sub-umbilicate  below, 
stipitate ;  stipe  short,  much  less  than  one-half  the  total  height, 
snow  white,  tapering  upward ;  hypothallus  white,  venulose, 
occurring  from  stipe  to  stipe  to  form  an  open  network  over 
the  substratum  ;  columella  thick,  cylindric,  tapering,  blunt, 
terminating  below  the  apex,  white ;  capillitium  springing  from 
every  part  of  the  columella,  of  slender  threads,  brown,  flexu- 
ous,  branching   and   anastomosing   to   form    an   intricate   net; 


D /ACHE A 


135 


spores  in  mass  nearly  black,  by  transmitted  ligr.t  dull  viola- 
ceous, minutely  roughened,  7— :>  fx. 

A  very  beautiful  species ;  not  uncommon  in  the  eastern  states ; 
rare  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Easily  recognized,  amid  related 
forms,  by  its  snow  white  stem,  a  feature  which  did  not  escape 
the  notice  of  Bulliard  and  suggested  the  accepted  specific  name. 
Fries  adopted  the  specific  name  proposed  by  Trentepohl  and 
wrote  D.  clcgans,  simply  because  to  him  the  pcridium  was 
"  admodum  elegans." 

The  peridium  is  exceedingly  thin  and  early  deciduous ;  the 
stipe  long  persistent.  The  plasmodium,  dull  white,  was  observed 
by  Fries  at  the  beginning  of  the  century;  "  morphoseos  clavem 
inter  myxogastres  hoc  genus  primum  mihi  subministravit." 

This  species,  as  the  DiacJuas  generally,  affects  fallen  sticks 
and  leaves  in  orchards  and  forests  and  even  spreads  boldly  over 
the  foliage  and  stems  of  living  plants. 

New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia, 
South  Carolina,  Ohio,  Iowa,  California. 

2.      DiACHEA    SPLENDENS   Peck. 

Plate  VII.,  Figs,  i,  \  a,  xb,  \  c. 
1877.     Diachea  splendens  Peck,  Rep.  N".  Y.  Mus.,  XXX.,  p.  50. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  metallic  blue  with  brilliant  iridescence, 
globose,  stipitate ;  stipe  white,  short,  tapering  upward ;  hypo- 
thallus  white  venulose,  a  network  supporting  the  snowy  stipes  ; 
columella  white,  cylindric,  passing  the  centre,  obtuse ;  capil- 
litium  lax,  of  slender,  anastomosing,  brown,  translucent  threads ; 
spores  in  mass  black,  by  transmitted  light  dark  violaceous,  very 
coarsely  wai'sd,  7-10  /x. 

This  is  perhaps  th'  most  showy  species  of  the  list.  The 
brilliantly  iridescent  sporangia  are  lifted  above  the  substratum 
on  snow  white  columnar  stalks  ;  these  are  again  joined  one  to 
another  by  the  pure  white  vein-like  cords  of  the  reticulate  hypo- 
thallus.  The  plasmodium  may  spread  very  widely  over  all  sorts 
of  objects  that  come  in  the  way,  dry  forest  leaves  and  sticks,  or 
the  fruit  and  foliage  of  living  plants.     Closely  resembling  the 


m 


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i3<5 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


preceding,  but  differing  in  the  globose  sporangia,  it  may  be 
instantly  recognized  under  the  lenses  by  its  coarsely  papillate 
spores. 

Not  common.  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ontario,  Ohio,  Iowa, 
Nebraska. 

3.    DiACHEA  thomasii  Rex. 

1892.     Diachea  thomasii  Rex,  Proc.  PhiL  Acad.^  p.  329. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  more  or  less  crowded,  purple  and 
bronze,  iridescent,  globose  sessile  or  short  stipitate  ;  stipe,  when 
present,  very  short,  thick,  tapering  rapidly  ui>ward,  orange ; 
hypothallus  orange,  prominent  venulose,  continuous;  columella 
ochre  yellow,  rough,  cylindric,  tapering  upward  one-half  the 
sporangium,  obtuse ;  capillitium  lax,  of  slender  brown  rigid 
threads,  radiating  from  the  columella  in  every  direction,  anasto- 
mosing to  form  a  loose,  large-meshed  network ;  spore-mass 
brown  ;  spores  by  transmitted  light  violaceous,  minutely,  un- 
evenly wartcd,  10-12  /i. 

The  peculiar  orange  color  of  the  calcareous  deposits  in  stipe 
and  columella  easily  distinguish  this  species.  The  capillitium  is 
also  distinctive,  rigid,  simple,  and  comparatively  scant,  Lampro- 
denna-\\kQ,.  Rex  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  under  low 
magnification  the  spores  appear  spotted ;  but  the  spots  are  oc- 
casioned simply  by  the  closer  aggregation,  at  particular  points, 
of  the  ordinary  papillce. 

A  southern  species.  All  the  specimens  so  far  reported  are 
from  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina. 

The  specimens  referred  to  under  this  name  by  Lister,  Mon., 
p.  92,  as  coming  from  "  Kittery,  U.  S.  A."  (Kittery,  Maine.?), 
are,  no  doubt,  according  to  Mr.  Lister's  figures,  ComatricJia 
ca;spitosa  Sturgis.     See  under  that  species. 


liV  : 


i    'i 


C.     LAMPRODERMEvE. 

Sporangia  distinct,  generally  gregarious,  more  or  less  spheri- 
cal ;  capillitium  developed  chiefly  or  solely  from  the  summit  of 
the  columella. 


ENERTUEXEMA  1 37 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Lampro4ermeaB. 

A.   Columella  pcrcurrunt ;  capillitiuni  from  a  disk  at  tlic  apex. 

I.  Knkuthrnema 
Columella  scarce  reacliing  the  centre  of  the  sporangium. 

a.  Capillitium  not  forming  a  net    .         .         .  2.  Clastodf.kma 

b.  Capillitium  forming  an  intricate  net  .         .         3    La.mi'Kodkkma 


1.   Enerthenema  Bowmaii. 

1828.     Enerthenema  liowman,  Trans.  Linn.  Sec,  XVl.,  p.  152. 

Sporangia  stipitatc,  the  stipe  extended  as  a  columella,  which 
entirely  traverses  the  sporangium  and  forms  at  the  ajiex  an 
expand"  d  disk;  from  this  depends  the  capiUitium.  Only  a 
single  species. 


I.   Enerthenema  papillata  {Po's.)  Rost. 

Plate  V.,  Fig.  3. 

1801.     Stenioiiiiis  papillata  ?GX?,.,  Syn.,\i.  188, 

1828.     Enerthenema  eleifans  Bowman,  Trans.  Linn.  Soe.,  XVI.,  p.  152. 

1876.     Enerthenema  papillata  (I'ers.)  Rost.,  Afon.  App.,  p.  28. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  crowded,  stipitate,  spheroidal,  naked, 
black  fuscous,  above  shining,  adorned  with  a  minute,  black 
papilla;  stipe  black,  opaque,  conical  or  attenuate  upward,  about 
equal  to  the  peridium  ;  columella  at  the  apex  expanded  into  a 
shining  disk ;  capillitium  springing  from  the  lower  side  of  the 
disk  or  from  its  edge,  made  up  of  scarcely  forked  threads  which 
are  free  below;  spores  violaceous  or  fuscous  black,  minutely 
warted,  10-12  fi. 

Rare.  Wisconsin,  Ohio,  South  Carolina,  Illinois,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

This  is  one  of  the  few  species  so  well  marked  that  Persoon's 
description,  /.c,  is  definitive :  "  Stylidio  toto  penetrante.  Capil- 
litium exacte  globosum,  sub-compactum,  in  eius  apice  stylidium 
papilLne  in  modum  prominet."  For  this  reason  Bowman's  spe- 
cific name  elcgans  is  discarded. 


'  '!  I 


\i 


138 


T//E  XORTH  AM  ERIC  AX  iiUME-MOULDS 


1    ! 


il  ■     • 


2.   Clastoderma  P^lytt. 

1880.     Clastoderma  IJlytt,  Hot.  /.eit.,  XXXVIII.,  p.  343. 

Sporaiif^ium  globose,  distinct,  stipitato  ;  the  columella  short  or 
obsolete ;  the  capillitium  of  few  sparsely  branched  threads, 
which  bear  at  their  tops  the  persistent  fragments  of  the  perid- 
ium,  but  arc  not  otherwise  united. 

Distinguished  from  Lamproderma  by  the  peculiar  manner  in 
which  the  peridium  is  ruptured,  and  by  the  simplicity  of  the 
scanty  capillitium.  So  far  there  appears  to  be  but  a  single 
species. 

I.   Clastoderma  debaryanum  Blytt. 

ri.ATK  XIII.,  Fig.  6. 

1S80.     Clastoderma  debaryanum  Blytt,  Jiot.  Zeit.^  XXXVIII.,  p.  343. 
1886.     Orthotrichia  microcephala  Wingate,  Joiir.  Myc.^  II.,  p.  126. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  very  minute,  -^V  to  |  mm. 
in  diameter,  the  peridium  fugacious,  except  the  minute  patches 
that  adhere  to  the  capillitial  branchlets,  and  the  slight  annulus 
at  the  base  of  the  columella ;  stipe  long,  unequal,  dark  below, 
above  paler ;  columella  almost  none,  giving  early  rise  to  the 
comparatively  few  slender  threads  which  by  their  repeated 
forking  make  up  the  capillitium ;  spores  globose,  even,  viola- 
ceous, 8-9  fi. 

Reported  in  the  United  States  so  far  from  Maine,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Ohio,  and  Illinois. 

The  sporangia  are  very  small,  but  beautiful,  delicate  little 
structures  found  on  the  bark  of  living  red  oak  in  this  country ; 
ill  Norway  it  seems  to  have  been  seen  first  on  a  dead  Polyporus. 
Its  minuteness  doubtless  causes  it  to  be  generally  overlooked, 
N.  A.  F.,  2498. 

3.   Lamproderma  Rostafinski. 

1873.     Lamproderma  Rostafinski,  Versiich,  p.  7. 

Sporangia  stipitate,  globose,  or  ellipsoid ;  columella  cylindric 
or  inflated  or  clavate  at  the  apex,  scarcely  attaining  half  the 
height  of   the  peridium ;   peridium  shining  with  metallic  tints, 


'•<■ '}  I 


LAMrRODERMA 


139 


clccicUious,  except  where,  at  the  base  of  the  columella,  it  forms 
a  rinj;  around  the  stipe ;  capillitium  risiut,^  in  tufts  or  by  simple 
branches  from  the  columella,  the  threatls  regularly  forked,  gen- 
erally united  into  a  net. 

The  Lamprodermas  are  distin,i;uished  from  the  Comatrichas, 
to  which  they  are  most  nearly  allied,  by  the  arran^^ement  of  the 
capillitium,  its  development  from  the  apex  only  of  the  columella, 
the  continuation  of  the  stipe  within  the  peridium.  In  other 
words,  the  peridium  leaves  the  stipe  some  distance  below  the 
point  where  the  lowest  capillitial  branches  take  ori^ijin.  In 
mature  specimens  the  peridium  has  often  entirely  (lisai)peared, 
its  only  trace,  a  collar,  more  or  less  distinct,  around  the  stipe, 
marking  the  beginning  of  the  columella.  Nevertheless  the 
peridium  is  far  more  persistent  than  in  any  Comatricha,  and 
shows  in  yet  greater  brilliancy  the  wondrous  metallic  tints  and 
iridescence  of  Coviatricha  and  Diachca.  Older  authors,  so  far 
as  can  be  seen,  distributed  the  species  between  Physantm  and 

Stcmonitis. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Lamproderma. 


5.  L.  violaceum 


A.  Peridium  metallic  blue. 

a.  Stipe  short,  stout. 

I.   Capillitium  tips  colorless 

b.  Stipe  long,  slender. 

1.  Capillitium  of  dark,  tapering,  oft-united  threads, 

3.  L.  colnmbimim 

2.  Capillitial  threads  rigid,  dark  brown,  seldom  united, 

4.  L.  iridcHiii 

B,  Peridium  not  blue,  silvery. 

a.  Stipe  long,  slender. 

1.  Capillitium  very  intricate,  forming  a  compact  net, 

6.  L,  arcyrionema 

2.  Capillitium  of  rigid  dark  brown  threads    .  i.  L.  pliysaroidcs 

b.  Stipe  short,  heads  large,  i  mm.  or  more    .         .  2.  /-.  sauteri 

I.    Lamproderma  phvsaroides  {Alb.  and  Sc/nv.)  Rost. 

1805.     Physaruiii  physaroides  Alb.  and  Schw.,  Coiisp.  Ftiiii^.,  \).  103. 
1875.     Lainprodcrma  physaroides  (Alb.  and  Schw.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  202. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  widespreading,  globose,  the  peridium 
persistent  with  a  silver  metallic,  sometimes  brassy,  lustre ;  stipe 


I 


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V 


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'  9  IE 


140 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


long  brown  or  black,  tapering  upward ;  hypothallus  well  devel- 
oped, brown  or  purple,  usually  not  continuous ;  columella 
swollen,  obtuse,  short  at  best,  hardly  attaining  the  centre  of 
the  s])orangium ;  capillitium  very  rigid,  of  simple  or  sparingly 
branched,  dark  brown  threads  radiating  from  the  clavate  apex 
of  the  columella  and  only  here  and  there  anastomosing  toward 
the  surface,  the  ultimate  divisions  distinctly  rough ;  spores  lilac 
brown,  rough,  10-12. 5  //.. 

This  species  is  well  described  and  illustrated  in  Rostafinski's 
Monograph.  Tt  is  well  marked  by  its  clavate  columella  and 
peculiarly  simple,  dark  rigid  capillitium,  the  branches  of  which 
rise  in  great  numbers  immediately  from  the  columella,  and 
maintain  their  primitive  thickness  during  the  greater  part  of 
their  length.  The  transverse  vincula  are  often  at  right  angles 
to  the  principal  branches,  and  the  meshes,  wliere  formed,  are 
often  long  and  rectangular.  Externally,  it  resembles  L.  arcyri- 
oncma,  but  is  by  its  spores  and  capillitium  instantly  distin- 
guished. Rostafinski  gives  the  spores  12. 5-14.2  (x.  Large 
spores  are  Ic^s  common  in  the  specimens  before  us.  Lister 
figures  a  sessile  variety. 

Not  common.     New  England,  New  York. 

2.    Lamproderma  sauteri  Rost. 

P1.ATK  v.,  Figs.  4,  4  rt. 

1875.     Laiiiprodertiia  sauteri  Rost.,  Afon.,  p.  205. 

1S92.     LainpKcdenna  rohiista  (Ell.  and  Everh.)  Mass.,  Moit.,  p.  99. 

1894.     Laniprodcnna  arcyrioidcs  {':^o\x\\\\.^  Morgan, /(;«;-.  Cin.  Soc.,"^.  47. 


Sporangi.7  gregarious,  globose,  dull  black,  the  peridium  when 
present  silvery,  shining,  or  simply  smooth,  transparent  and 
without  iridescence,  stipitate  ;  stipe  short,  black,  tapering 
rapidly  upward,  annulate  with  the  persisting  base  of  the 
peridium  ;  columella  short,  thick,  truncate,  and  widened  at 
the  top  ;  hypothallus  well  developed,  brown  or  purple ;  capil- 
litium dense,  made  up  of  dark  brown  branches,  numerous  and 
rather  slender,  repeated 'y  branched  and  anastomosing  toward 


LAMPRODERMA 


141 


the  surface  to  form  a  sli^^ht  delicate  network  with  abundant 
free  ends;  spores  dark  purple  brown,  rou^h,  14-16  ix. 

This  species  in  outward  appearance  resembles  L.  pltysaroidcs, 
from  which  it  is  easily  distinguished  by  the  much  <;reater 
diameter  of  the  globose  sporangium,  i  mm.  or  more.  The  per- 
sistent base  of  the  peridium  is  also  characteristic,  very  prom- 
inent sometimes,  and  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  The  capillitium 
is  also  unlike  that  of  L.  pJiysaroidcs  ;  resembles  more  nearly 
that  of  L.  violacaini.  From  the  latter  species  L.  sauti-ri  is 
distinguished  by  the  color  of  the  peridium,  and  by  the  larger, 
darker  spores  and  generally  different  capillitium.  This  i::. 
L.  robusta  as  distributed  in  the  United  States,  but  Mr.  Lister 
is  certain  that  it  is  identical  with  the  Rostafinskian  form.  L. 
arcyrioides  of  Morgan's  list  appears  to  be  the  same.  L.  (5.) 
arcyrioides  Somm.  apparently  does  not  occur  in  this  country. 

Washington.    Ohio. 


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47- 


3.    Lamproderma  columbinum  (Pi'rs.)  Rost. 

1796.     r/iysarn.<)i  colioiibiniiDi  Pers.,  Obs.  Myc,  I.,  p.  5. 
1875.     Lainpyodcnita  coluinbitrnn  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  203. 

Sporangia  scattered,  gregarious ;  rich  violet  or  purple  with 
metallic  iridescence,  globose,  stipitate ;  the  stipe  long,  three- 
fourths  the  total  height,  slender,  subulate,  black ;  hypothallus 
scant,  purplish  or  brown ;  columella  small,  one-third  the  height 
or  less,  tapering  or  acute,  black  ;  the  capillitium  brown  through- 
out, not  dense,  arising  from  nearly  all  parts  of  the  columella, 
freely  branching  and  anastomosing  to  an  open,  iari.^e-meshed 
network ;  spore-mass  black,  spores  by  transmitted  light  dark 
brown,  rough,  10-12  fi. 

Rostarinski  «'!istinguished  this  beautiful  species  by  the  color  of 
the  peridium  and  the  conic  columella.  According  to  Mr.  Lister, 
Rostafinski  was  not  specially  careful  in  labelling  his  material, 
different  forms  having  been  included  under  this  s]-)ecilic  name. 
Nevertheless,  the  description  is  well  drawn,  and  exckides  Z. 
pJiysaroidcs  completely.  At  all  events  our  American  specimens 
correspond  so  well  with  the  description  of  L.  columbinum  {Vox^.) 


1   '*•' 


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M 


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142 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


Rost.  that  there  seems  no  doubt  that  we  have  here  what  the 
PoUsh  author  figured  and  described,  whether  or  not  he  was 
always  consistent  in  applying  his  labels.  The  co'or  distinguishes 
at  sight  the  present  species  from  L.  pJiysaroidc-,  and  tht  capil- 
litium  and  large  rough  brown  spores  distinguish  it  from  L. 
violaccum.  The  capillitium  of  L.  sciutillans  is  much  denser 
and  more  rigid,  and  the  spores  smaller.  The  stipe  when  dry 
is  ciliate. 

Rare.     Maine,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina. 


ufi 


'    I 


4.    Lamproderma  sci^TiLLAi^s  (Ber^.  and  Bk)  List. 

Plate  V.,  Figs.  2,  2  a. 

1877.     Stemouitis  sciutillans  Berk,  and  V>r.,Jour.  Linn.  Soc.  XV.,  p.  2. 
1877.     Lainprodcnna  arcyrioides,  var.  iridca.  Cke.,  Myx.  G.  />'.,  p.  50. 
1892.     Lamproderma  irideum  (Cke.),  Mass.  Man.,  p.  95. 
1894.     Lainpr'  derma  sciutillans  (Berk,  and  Br.)  List.,  JMorg., /c;«r.  Cin. 
Soc,  p.  47. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  scattered,  globose  or  depressed  globose, 
rich  metallic  blue  or  purple,  iridescent,  stipitate ;  the  stipe  long, 
slender,  even,  inclined  and  nodding  or  sometimes  erect ;  hypo- 
thallus  small,  circular ;  columella  cylindric,  small,  not  reaching 
the  centre,  black;  capillitium  dense,  of  rigid,  straight,  spa.ingly 
branched  or  anastomosing  brown  threads,  which  are  sometimes 
white  or  colorless  just  as  they  leave  the  columella;  spores 
globose,  rough,  violaceous  brown,  8  ^. 

This  is  L.  irideum  of  Cooke  and  of  Massee's  Monograph. 
Its  capillitium  is  remarkable,  and  constitutes  an  easy  diagnostic 
mark.  The  threads  appear  at  first  sight  entirely  simple,  but  are 
really  several  times  furcate,  and  not  infrequently  anastomose. 
The  spores  are  covered  with  sparsely  sown  large  papilla;,  easily 
seen  under  moderate  magnification. 

This  is  one  of  our  earliest  species.  To  be  sought  in  May  on 
beds  of  decaying  oak  leaves  in  the  woods,  especially  in  wet 
places,  near  streams,  etc. 

Rare.     New  England,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa. 


LAMI'RODERMA 


143 


5.  Lamprodekma  violaceum  {Fncs)  Rost. 

iS2g.     Stcinouitis  violacca  Fries.  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  162. 
1875.     Lainproiieniia  violacciiin  (Fries)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  204. 

Sporangia  clo.sely  gregarious  or  scattered,  depressed  globose, 
more  or  less  umbilicate  below,  metallic  blue  or  purple,  sessile  or 
short  stipitate ;  stipe  stout,  dark  brown  or  black,  even  ;  hypo- 
thallus,  when  the  sporangia  are  crowded,  a  thin,  continuous, 
purplish  membrane;  when  the  sporangia  are  scattered,  the 
hypothallus  discoidal ;  columella  cylindric  or  tapering  slightly 
upward,  the  apex  obtuse,  black,  attaining  the  centre  of  the  spo- 
rangium ;  capillitium  lax  and  flaccid,  made  up  of  flexuous  threads 
bra,  ching  and  anastomosing  to  form  a  network,  open  in  the 
interior,  more  dense  without,  the  threads  at  first  pale  brown  as 
they  leave  the  columella,  becoming  paler  outward  to  the  color- 
less tips;  spores  minutely  warted,  violaceous  gray,  9-1 1  yu. 

This  is  our  most  common  species ;  found  on  decaying  sticks 
and  logs  late  in  the  fall.  Its  pale  capillitium  will  usually  distin- 
guish it,  especially  where  the  sporangia  are  empty ;  then  the 
pallid  free  extremities  of  the  capillitial  branches  give  to  the  little 
spheres  under  the  lens  a  white  or  hoary  appearance  not  seen  in 
any  other  species. 

The  Plasmodium  is  at  first  almost  transparent,  then  amber 
tinted,  sending  up  tiny  semi-transparent  spheres  on  shining 
brownish  stalks.  As  the  changes  approach  maturity,  the  spo- 
rangia bee  nie  jet  black,  and  only  at  last  when  the  spores  are 
ready  for  di.^persal  does  the  peridium  assume  its  rich  metallic 
purple  tints. 

New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  South  Dakota. 

6.  Lamprodekma  arcvkionema  Rost. 

Pl.Aii;  v.,  Fi^s.  I,  I  a. 
1875.     Lawproderma  arcyrionenia  Rost.,  Mo>i.,  p.  208. 

Spora;ngia  gregarious,  scattered,  globose,  silvery  gray  or 
bronze,  iridescent,  erect,  stij)itate ;  stipe  black,  long,  two-thirds 


I    !  ! 


f:h.i 


-  ,\\ 


144 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


'  1. 1 


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to  three-fourths  the  total  height,  slender,  rigid ;  cokimella 
slender,  cyHndric,  attaining  about  one-third  the  height  of  the 
sporangium  when  it  breaks  into  the  primary  branches  of  the 
capillitium ;  capillitium  exceedingly  intricate,  made  up  of  slen- 
der, fiexuous  brown  threads  which  frequently  branch  and  anas- 
tomose to  form  an  elegant  round-meshed  network  resembling 
that  of  Arcyria,  free  ultimate  branchlets  not  numerous  ;  spores 
in  mass  jet  black,  by  transmitted  light  violaceous,  smooth,  or 
only  faintly  warted,  6-S  /jl. 

In  outward  appearance  this  species  resembles  L.  pJiysaroidcs, 
but  is  easily  recognizable  by  its  very  peculiar  capillitium.  This, 
in  its  primary  branching,  resembles  a  ComatricJia.  In  typical 
forms,  the  columella  branches  at  the  apex  only,  generally  into 
two  strong  divisions  which  then  break  up  irregularly  and  anas- 
tomose in  every  direction.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  form 
present  to  Rostafinski  when  he  wrote  "columella  truncate." 
In  Central  American  and  some  North  American  specimens,  the 
branching  is  very  different ;  the  twigs  leave  the  columella  at 
various  points  almost  down  to  the  annulus,  and  the  entire  effect 
is  dendroid.  The  columella  is  lost  almost  at  once.  A  small 
form  of  this  species  was  formerly  distributed  in  the  United 
States  as  Coinatricha  fricsiana  DeBy.  This  circumstance  led 
the  present  author  to  describe  Central  American  forms  as 
C.  sJiit)ickiana.  Judging  from  a  remark  by  Massee  {Mon., 
p.  97),  a  similar  confusion  seems  to  have  prevailed  in  Europe. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  resemblance  between  C.  fricsiana,  i.e. 
C.  nii^ra,  and  the  present  species  is  sufficiently  remote. 

Lamprodcnna  tniuHinin  Rostafinski  seems  to  be  a  small  form 
of  this  species.  Rostafinski  bases  his  diagnosis  upon  the 
branching  of  the  columella,  which  is,  as  we  have  seen,  incon- 
stant, and  upon  the  colorless  capillitium.  This  feature  in  speci- 
mens examined  is  also  inconstant. 

Occurring  in  large  colonies  on  barkless  decaying  logs  of 
various  .species  ;  the  plasmodium  almost  colorless. 

New  England,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Mexico, 
Nicaragua. 


'S 


LICEA  145 


Order  III. 
CRIBRARIACEiE. 

Fructification  plasmodiocarpous  or  cethalioid,  or  consisting  of 
distinct  sporangia;  peridia  membranaceous  at  maturity,  more 
or  less  evanescent,  opening  irregularly  or  by  means  of  a  deli- 
cate network,  which  involves  at  least  the  upper  part  of  the 
sporangium  ;  capillitium  none.  Spores  of  some  shade  of  brown, 
umbrine,  rarely  purplish. 

This  order  is  distinguished  by  the  entire  absence  of  the  capil- 
litium, the  pallid  or  brown  spores,  the  gradual  evolution  of  dis- 
tinct sporangia  in  which  provision  for  spore-dispersal  is  made 
by  peridial  modification  especially  at  the  sporangium-top. 

Key  to  the  Families  of  the  Cribrariaceae. 

A.  Fructification  plasmodiocarpous  scattered  as  if  made  up  of  the  set^ments 

of  the  Plasmodia!  net LicE/E 

B.  Fructification  cXthalioid,  the  sporangia  ill  defined,  their  walls  more  or 

less  perforate,  frayed,  or  dissipated,  forming  a  pseudo-capillitium, 

Ri:ticulaiui:.k 

C.  Fructification  a;thalioid,  the  sporangia  generally  more  or  less  tubular, 

often  prismatic  by  mutual  pressure ;  opening  by  rupture  of  the  apex, 
the  lateral  walls  entire Tui'.ifkrI'.k 

D.  Fructification  of  distinct  and  separate  sporangia,  long  stipitate,  opening 

by  a  delicate  operculum  at  the  top         .         .         .        OkcadkllI';,!-: 

E.  Fructification  of  distinct  and  separate  sporangia,  the  walls  more  or  less 

reticulately  perforate  especially  above   .....  Ckibkarie.e 


A  single  genus, 


A.    LICE^. 


1.   Licea  {ScJimdcr)  Rost. 

17()7.     Licea  Schrader,  Nov.  Geii.  Plant.,  p.  16,  in  part. 
1873.     ^i<^<^t^  (Schrader)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  218. 

Sporangia   plasmodiocarpous,    looped,   irregular,    or  distinct, 
sessile,  and  regularly  rounded  or  elliptical ;  the  peridium  simple, 


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146 


Th  :  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


rather  firm,  ruptured  irregularly  or  by  simple  fissure ;  hypothal- 
lus  none. 

This  genus  is  distinguished  from  other  similar  plasmodiocar- 
pous  forms  by  the  extreme  simplicity  of  its  structure.  There  is 
absolutely  no  capillitium  nor  anything  like  it,  simply  a  mass  of 
spores  surrounded  by  thin  membranous  walls.  The  spores 
range  from  pale  olive,  colorless  under  the  lens,  through  various 
shades  of  brown  to  dusky  almost  black  in  L.  piisilla.  Schrader 
included  the  Tubifcni  species. 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Licea. 

A.  Plainly  plasmodiocarpous 

B.  Sporan^fia  distinct  though  commonly  unequal. 

a.  Opening  irregularly 

b.  Opening  by  regular  segments. 

1.  Segments  two  only 

2.  Segments  several. 

i.    Spores  brown 

ii.    Spores  dusky  olive 


,     I.   L.  variabilis 

2.   L.  lindJiei)ncri 

3.    L.  biforis 

4.    L.  vti)ii)na 
5.    L.  pus  ilia 


I.    LiCEA  VARIABILIS  Sckmdcr. 

ri.ATK  XII.,  Fig.  7. 

1797.     Licca  variabilis  Schrader,  N'ov.  Gen.,  p.  18,  PI.  VI.,  Figs.  5  and  6. 

Fructification  plasmodiocarpous,  elongate,  hamate,  annulate 
or  irregularly  repent,  very  dark  brown,  rough,  the  peridium  of 
two  layers,  the  outer  closely  adhering,  dark  brown,  thick,  opaque, 
the  inner  deUcate,  membraneous,  very  thin,  transparent,  irides- 
cent, rugulose,  rupturing  irregularly ;  hypothallus  none ;  spores 
in  mass  pale  yellow  with  a  greenish  tinge,  by  transmitted  light 
nearly  colorless,  large,  globose,  minutely  spinulose,  12.5  /x.. 

This  is  the  largest  species  of  the  genus  as  represented  in  this 
country,  the  plasmodiocarps  of  various  lengths  and  from  .5-. 7  /* 
wide.  Somewhat  resembling  some  species  of  OpJiiotJicca,  but  of 
much  darker  color.  The  outer  peridium  is  deciduous,  and  the 
inner  slowly  ruptures,  by  irregular  fissures  discharging  the 
spores.  The  plasmodium,  according  to  Schrader,  is  white. 
Rare.     Probably  overlooked. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa. 


m 


UCEA 


M7 


Licca  flcxuosa  Pcrs.  is  by  Schweinitz  reported  from  Penn- 
sylvania. It  is  described  as  havinj,^  brown  spores,  10-15  M. 
spinulose. 

2.     LiCEA    LINDHEIMERI    Bcvkchy. 

I'l.ATK  XII.,   Fi^rs.  6,  6(/.  (ib. 
1873.     /-.iVvrt  lindheiiiicri  Berkeley,  Grcv.,  II.,  p.  68. 

Sporan^^ia  gregarious,  sometimes  closely  aggregated,  some- 
times scattered,  globose,  dull  reddish  or  reddish  brown,  \  mm., 
sessile;  the  peridium  thin,  transparent,  smooth  where  e.xposcd 
to  view,  opening  irregularly;  hypothallus  none;  spore-mass  red, 
or  brownish  red,  spores  by  transmitted  light,  reddish,  depressed, 
globose,  coarsely  warted,  5  fi. 

This  species  is  easily  recognizable  by  its  peculiar  color. 
Berkeley  describes  it  as  brick  red.  The  outward  color  is  due  to 
tint  of  the  spore-mass  shining  through  the  transparent  peridium. 
Under  the  lens,  the  spores  in  water  are  red  or  reddish  brown ; 
when  swollen  by  the  addition  of  a  little  potash  solution,  they 
become  bright  violet.  The  spore  is  distinctly  elliptical  in  one 
section,  is  coarsely  papillate  on  its  flattened  sides,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  two  parallel,  projecting,  transparent  plates  lying  in 
planes,  to  which  the  shorter  axis  of  the  spore  is  perpendicular. 

The  specimens  in  the  herbarium  are  on  the  dead  roots  of 
cotton  plants.  For  the  privilege  of  examining  the  sj^ecies, 
we  are  specially  indebted  to  Mr.  Morgan,  who  received  the 
material  from  Texas. 

Probably  not  uncommon  southward;  so  far  reported  from 
Texas  only. 

3.    LicEA  BiFORis  Morgan. 

ri.ATK  XII.,  Fig.  10. 

1893.     Lkea  b  if  oris  Morgan,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  5. 

Sporangia  regular,  compressed,  sessile  on  a  narrow  base,  gre- 
garious ;  the  wall  firm,  thin,  smooth,  yellow  brown  in  color  and 
nearly  opaque,  with  minute,  scattered  granules  on  the  inner  sur- 
face, at  maturity  opening  ii:to  two  equal  parts,  which  remain 


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148 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN'  SLIME-MOULDS 


•  '  i 


persistent  by  the  base ;  spores  yellow  brown  in  mass,  globose  or 
oval,  even,  9-12  fi. 

Minute  but  perfectly  regular,  almost  uniform  corneous  look- 
ing sporangia  are  thickly  strewn  over  the  inner  surface  of  de- 
caying bark.  I^ach,  at  first  elongate,  pointed  at  each  end, 
opens  at  length  by  fissure  along  the  upper  side  setting  free  the 
minute  yellowish  spores.  Unlike  anything  else  ;  reminding  one, 
at  first  sight,  of  some  species  of  Gloniiini. 

Inside  bark  of  Liriodcndron.     Ohio,  Canada. 

4.  LiCEA  MINIMA  Fries. 

1829.     Licca  minii/ia  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  199. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  umber  brown,  spherical  or  hemispheri- 
cal, sessile ;  the  peridium  opaque,  brown,  opening  along  pre- 
figured lines,  forming  segments  with  dotted  margins,  ultimately 
widely  rcliexed ;  spores  in  mass  dark  brown,  by  transmitted 
light  paler  with  olive  tints,  minutely  roughened,  10- 11  ft. 

The  very  minute  sporangia,  3  mm.,  of  this  species  cause  it 
to  be  overlooked  generally  by  collectors.  Nevertheless,  it  may 
be  found  on  decaying  soft  woods,  in  August,  probably  around 
the  world.  The  number  of  sporangia  produced  by  one  Plasmo- 
dium is  in  Iowa  also  small.  The  larger  specimens  might  be 
mistaken  for  species  of  Pcriclm?ia,  but  are  easily  distinguished 
by  the  regular  and  lobate  dehiscence.    The  plasmodium  is  yellow. 

New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Iowa. 

5.  Lycea  pusilla  ScJiradcr. 

1797.     Licca  pusilla  Schrad.,  N'ov.  Gen.  PL,  p.  19.  tab.  VI.,  f.  4. 

Sporangia  scattered,  gregarious,  depressed  globose,  sessile 
on  a  flattened  base,  dark  brown,  shining,  .5-1  mm.  ;  peridium 
thin,  dark  colored,  translucent,  dehiscent  above  by  regular  seg- 
ments ;  spore-mass  almost  black,  spores  by  transmitted  light 
olivaceous  brown,  smooth,  or  nearly  so,  15-17  ft. 

Rostafinski  placed  this  with  the  Physarums  on  account  of  the 
dark-colored  spores,  Protodcrina  pusilla  Rost.  The  absence  of 
capillitial  threads  and  lime  makes  such  reference  unnatural. 


h'i\    : 


RETICULARIA 


149 


This  species  is  by  luiropean  authors  reported  from  the  United 
States,  but  we  have  not  seen  it.  F.  very  thing  so-called  received 
here  (Iowa)  is  L.  minima.     Morgan  reports  it  from  Ohio. 


B.    RETICULARIE/E. 

Fructification  cethalioid ;  the  sporangia  generally  poorly 
defined,  intricately  associated,  borne  on  a  common  hyjiothallus 
and  covered  above  by  a  common  cortex,  the  lateral  walls  variously 
perforate  and  incomplete,  form  a  pseudo-capillitium ;  spores 
umber  or  ochraceous. 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Reticularieae. 

A.  Spores  umber. 

a.  Sporangia  wholly  indeterminate,  their  walls  much  consolidated 

below,  fraying  out  above  into  long,  slender  tlneads, 

I.     KlCTICl'LAKIA 

b.  Sporangia  bounded,  more  or  less  distinctly,  by  broad  perforate 

plates  throughout 2.    Entkkidil'M 

B,  Spores  ochraceous 3.   Dictvui.ethalium 

1.   Reticularia  {BhIL)  Rost. 

1791.     Reticularia  Bulliard,  C/iainp.  de  la  France.,  p.  95  (in  part). 
1873.     Reticularia  (Bulliard)  Rost.,  Versiich,  p.  6. 

Sporangia  wholly  indeterminate  or  undefined,  their  walls  rep- 
resented (.?)  by  a  spongy  mass  of  so-called  capillitium,  consisting 
of  membranous  plates,  branching,  anastomosing,  vanishing 
without  order  or  symmetry,  generally  giving  rise  at  the  sides, 
and  especially  above,  to  long  slender  flexuous  threads ;  outer 
cortex  silvery  white ;  hypothallus  distinct  white ;  spore-mass 
and  threads  umber  or  rusty  brown. 

A  single  species,  — 

I.    Reticularia  lycoperdon  {Bulliard). 

Platk  X.,  Figs.  7,  la;   Pi.atk  XII.,  Fig.  3;   Fi-ATE  XVIII.,  Fig.  3. 
1 791.     Reticularia  lycoperdon  Bulliard,  Champ,  dc  la  France,  p.  95. 

^thalium  pulvinate,  2-8  cm.  broad,  at  first  silvery  white, 
later  less  lustrous,  the  cortex  irregularly  and  slowly  deciduous ; 


f 


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ISO 


THE  XORTU  AMERILAX  SLIME  MOLLDS 


I'.: 


hypothallus  at  first  conspicuous  as  a  white  margin  extending' 
round  the  entire  a?thalium,  evanescent  without,  but  pcrsistin^^ 
as  a  firm  membrame  beneath  the  spore-mass;  pseudo-capillitium 
abundant,  tending  to  form  erect  central  masses  which  persist 
lon;^^  after  the  greater  part  of  the  fruit  has  been  scattered  by 
the  winds ;  spore-mass  umber,  spores  by  transmitted  hght  [)ale, 
reticulate  over  about  two-thirds  of  the  surface,  the  remainder 
slightly  warted,  8-9  /*. 

Not  common.  Often  confused  with  the  following,  the  spores 
of  the  two  forms  being  very  much  alike;  the  internal  structure 
is,  however,  entirely  different,  and  once  compared,  the  two  are 
thereafter  easily  distinguished  at  sight  by  external  characters. 
The  internal  structure  is  indifferent.  It  represents  a  phase  in 
development  whence  might  issue  either  columellne  with  capilli- 
tium  branches  or  distinct  tubular  sporangia  with  persisting  walls. 
Compare  AinaurocJidtc  atrn,  where  similar  conditions  prevail. 
There  differentiation  goes  n  to  the  formation  of  a  structure  of 
which  Stcmouitis  is  tyjie;  here  the  sporangium  wall  becomes 
dominant;  suffers  modification  for  spore  disposal,  of  which  the 
climax  appears  in  Crihraria  and  Dictydinni.  We  cannot  regard 
the  cethalium  in  this  case  as  reversionary. 

Widely  distributed.     Maine  to  California,  and  south. 


ii    ;i 


!    I 


2.    Enteridium  EJumbcrg. 
1818.     Enteridium  Ehrenberg,  Link  and  Spreng.,/^?//;-^.,  Bd.  II.,  p.  55. 

Fructification  :cthalioid  ;  the  confluent  sporangia  inextricably 
interwcjven,  the  walls  perforate  by  large  openings,  the  resultant 
network  of  broad  plates  and  bands  widening  at  the  points  of 
intersection. 

The  genus  Entcvidinni  is  distinguished  from  Rcticuhiria 
chiefly  by  the  more  perfectly  developed  sporangial  walls. 
These  are  everywhere  membranous  and  do  not  show  the 
abundant  filiform  dissipation  so  characteristic  of  Rcticularia. 
The  resultant  structure  in  Rcticularia  is  a  mass  of  more  or  less 
lengthened  and  anastomosing  threads ;    in  Enteridium,   an  ex- 


EXTERIDIL  M 


151 


cecdingly  delicate  I'lt  sufficiently  i)cr.sistcnt  sponge.  The  "not- 
like,  three-winged  skeleton"  referred  to  by  Rostafinski  results 
from  the  union  at  one  point  of  three  adjoining  sporangia.  Com- 
pare the  section  of  the  adjoining  cells  ol  a  honeycomb.  In  our 
territory  so  far  occurs  but  one  species,  — 


I.     KNTKRIDft'M    Sl'LKXDENS    MoVgcXll. 

Pl..\ll.  I.,   I'itiS.  I,   1^7,    I/';    I'l.Ali.  \II.,   rif,'S.  4,  5. 

l88g.     Enteridium  rozcaiiuni  (Kost.)  Wini^.ite,  Proc.  I'hil.  /lead.,  p.  156. 

1892.  EntcridiiDii  rozcanniii  W'ingate.  Macbr.,  null.  Lab.  Xat.  Hist.  loiva, 
II..  p.  117. 

1893.  Rdictdaria  splcndcns'^Xox'-^.,  Jour.  Cin.  .Soc..\).  li. 
1899.     Enteridium  splcndcns  Morgiin,  Moii^an  ///  ////. 

yEthalium  pulvinatc,  even,  or  somewhat  irregular,  unevenly 
swollen  or  inflated,  lobate  or  compound,  covered  by  an  exceed- 
ingly thin,  generally  smooth,  shining,  but  never  white,  ])ellicie 
or  cortex,  brown,  from  1-6  cm.  in  diameter;  hyiiothallus  white, 
often  wide  extending ;  capillitium  none ;  the  sporangial  walls 
thin  and  brown,  forming  a  network  as  above  described  ;  spore- 
mass  umber,  spores  by  transmitted  light  pale,  about  two-thirds 
of  the  surface  reticulate,  the  rest  nearly  smooth,  7-9  ft. 

Very  common,  especially  west,  on  decaying  logs  and  stumps 
of  every  descri]3tion.  Easily  distinguished  by  its  brovvn  color 
and  smooth,  shining,  though  uneven  surface.  The  plasmodium 
as  it  emerges  to  form  fruit  is  pale  pink  or  flesh-color. 

In  1876  Rostafinski  provisionally  referred  to  the  genus 
Rcticularia  certain  specimens  received  from  M.  Roze  of  Paris. 
In  correspondence  with  M.  Roze,  Mr.  Wingate  satisfied  himself 
that  the  specimens  discovered  by  Roze  were  the  same  as  our 
conmion  Rntcridinui.  He,  therefore.  I.e.,  ajiplicd  to  our  Anicri- 
can  lorms  the  name  they  have  since  borne,  /:'.  ror^caiinm.  Mr. 
Lister,  your,  of  Botany,  September,  1891,  confused  the  matter 
by  referring  an  English  species  now  known  as  A',  lobata  to  the 
sam-  species.  From  all  the  literature  before  us  it  appears  that 
the  American  form  is  known  in  Europe  only  through  Mr. 
Wingate's   reference.      All    now   turns   on    the   nature  of   the 


«'    i 


152 


THE  XORTH  AMER/CLV  SLIME-MOULDS 


ori^Mnal  collections  of  M.  Rozc,  which,  it  appears,  are  no  lonj^cr 
to  be  consulted.  Under  these  circumstances,  W'in^^ate's  refer- 
ence cannot  be  verified,  and  our  species  becomes  li.  splciuiiiis. 
New  ICngland,  Canada,  to  Minnesota  and  Nebraska,  South 
Dakota. 

3.   Dictydiaethalium  Rostafuiski. 

i<S73.     Diityiiitrt/uilim/t  Kost.,  I'ersuch.  p.  5. 
KS75.     Clathroptycltinin  Kust.,  Mon.,  [>.  224. 

yKthalium  depressed,  flat ;  the  sporanp;ia  erect,  regular,  pris- 
matic by  mutual  pressure,  the  peridia  convex  above,  wanting  at 
the  sides,  and  within  the  a.'thalium  represented  by  vertical 
threads  marking  the  angles  and  passing  from  base  to  summit. 

This  genus  is  readily  recognized  by  the  internal  .structure  of 
the  x'thalium.  The  lateral  wall-openings,  which,  as  we  have 
seen,  characterize  the  sporangia  of  the  preceding  genus,  here 
become  extreme,  occupying  to  such  extent  the  lateral  wall  space 
of  each  sporangium  that  only  slender  threads  remain  to  mark 
the  vertical  angles. 

In  1873  Rostafinski  applied  the  generic  name  here  adopted, 
because  he  thought  he  discovered  close  relationships  with  Dic- 
tydiuni.  In  1875,  believing  his  first  impressions  erroneous,  and 
desirous  that  the  nomenclature  might  not  at  once  mislead  the 
student  and  perpetuate  the  memory  of  his  own  mistake,  the 
same  author  proposed  the  name  by  which  the  genus  has  gener- 
ally ever  since  been  known  —  ClatJiroptycJiium.  However  sen- 
sible the  later  conclusion  reached  by  our  Polish  author,  it  is 
plainly  contrary  to  all  rules  of  priority. 

Our  region  shows  but  a  single  widely  distributed  species,  — 


*  ■, 


I.     DlCTVDI.ETHALIUM    PLUMBEUM  {Sc/lUVl.)  Rost. 

Plate  I.,  Figs.  2,  2  a,  2  b. 

1803.  FuUi^o  pluDibca  Sclium.,  Fl.  Scrll..  No.  1410. 

1S33.  Lkcii  rusritlosa  Wallroth.  CV.  Fl.  Gcr.,  IV.,  p.  345. 

1873.  Dictydurtlialiiiiii  pliDiibcuiii  (Schum.),  Rost.  Versiic/i,  p.  5. 

1S75.  Clathroptychiiini  rm^iilosuiii  (Wallr.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  225. 

1894.  Dictydiicthaliuin  pluinbeum  Rost.,  Lister,  Mycetosoa,  p.  157. 


lij 


:i  i.i 


i.ixnnT.ADiA 


153 


yEthalium  thin,  very  flat,  olivaceous  or  ocliraccous,  smooth, 
under  the  lens  punctate,  in  section  showing;  the  columnar  or 
prismatic  sporan^^a,  which  are  normally  six-sided,  having;  at  the 
edges  six  simple  threads,  the  remains  of  the  peridium,  extend- 
ing from  base  to  apex,  where  the  peridium  remains  intact,  arcu- 
ate ;  hypothallus  prominent,  radiating  far  around  the  athalium, 
silvery  white;  spores  in  mass,  ochraceous,  or  dull  brownish 
yellow,  by  transmitted  light  almost  colorless,  rou;;h,  9-10  /i. 

Not  rare,  on  decaying  logs,  especially  of  Tilia  aiiuiicatia, 
where  in  the  same  place  successive  fructifications  follow  each 
other  sometimes  for  weeks  together  in  the  latter  part  of  sum- 
mer and  early  fall.  The  athalium  is  generally  ellijitical  or 
elongate,  2-3  cm.  in  extent,  sometimes  irregular  or  branched, 
varying  in  color  according  to  degree  of  maturity,  weathering, 
etc.     Plasmodium  at  first  watery,  then  pink,  or  flesh-colored. 

Eastern  United  States ;  common. 

C.   TUBIFKRIvE. 

Fructification  a^thalioid  ;  sporangia  well  defined,  tubular,  often 
prismatic  by  mutual  pressure,  seated  on  a  common,  well-marked 
hypothallus,  at  length  dehiscent  by  the  irregular  rupture  of  the 
peridium,  in  typical  cases  at  the  apex,  its  walls  remaining  then 
otherwise  entire. 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Tubifereae. 
A.    Spores  olivaceous  ;  sporant^ia  in  one  or  several  series,    i.  Lin'dhi.aoia 


B.    Spores  umber ;  sporangia  in  a  single  scries 


2.    TUblFEKA 


1.    Lindbladia  Fries. 

1849.     Lindbladia  Fries,  Sum.  Vcg.  Scand.,  p.  449. 

Fructification  ccthalioid ;  the  sporangia  short,  tubular,  some- 
times superimposed,  sometimes  forming  a  simple  stratum,  in 
the  latter  case  generally  sessile,  but  sometimes  short  stipitate, 
the  peridium  at  first  entire,  at  length  opening  irregularly  either 
at  the  sides  or  apex,  beset  with  granules ;  spores  olivaceous. 


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154 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


This  genus  was  established  by  Fries  in  1849  to  accommodate 
a  sin<;le  species  of  wide  distribution  and  somewhat  varying 
habit,  which  is  neither  a  Tiibifcra  nor  yet  a  Cribraria  and  offers 
points  of  resemblance  to  each.  It  is  distinct  in  that  the  spo- 
rangia, while  often  in  single  series,  are  yet  often  superimposed. 
It  resembles  Titbifera  in  its  simple  sporangia,  opening  without 
the  aid  of  a  net ;  it  is  like  Cribraria  in  the  smooth  ochraceous- 
olivaceous  spores  and  granuliferous  peridiurn. 


\% 


1 1 


I.     LlXDBLADIA    EFFUSA    {E/ir.)  Rost. 

PLAri-:  I.,  Figs.  3,  3  a,  Pi.Aii:  XII.,  Figs,  i,  2, 

1818.     Lkea  effusa  Ehr..  Sylv.  Myc.  Ber.,  p.  26. 
1875.     Lindhladia  effusa  (Ehr.)  Rost.  Men.,  p.  223. 
1S79.     Pcriclucna  ccespitosa  Feck.,  Rep.  N.V.  Mus.,  p.  57. 

Sporangia  minute,  either  closely  combined  and  superimposed, 
so  as  to  form  a  pulvinate  aethaUum,  or  crowded  together  in  a 
single  layer,  sessile,  or  shoit  stipitate ;  the  peridia  thin,  mem- 
branous, marked  by  scattered  plasmodic  granules,  often  lustrous, 
sometimes  dull  lead-colored  or  blackish,  especially  above ;  stipe, 
when  present,  very  short  but  distinct,  brown,  rugulose  ;  hypothal- 
lus  well  developed,  membranous,  or  more  or  less  spongiose  in 
structure  ;  spore-mass  ochraceous,  under  the  lens,  nearly  smooth, 
almost  colorless,  6-7.5  fi. 

This  very  variable  species  has  been  well  studied  by  Dr.  Rex. 
See  BoL  Gac,  XVII.,  p.  201.  In  its  simpler  phases  it  presents  but 
a  single  layer  of  sporangia  generally  closely  crowded  tcgether, 
sometimes  free  and  even  short  stipitate  !  In  the  more  complex 
phase  the  sporangia  are  heaped  together  in  a  pulvinate  mass  in 
which  the  peridia  appear  as  boundaries  of  minute  cells.  In  this 
case  the  outermost  sporangia  are  often  consolidated  to  form  a 
cortex  more  or  less  dense  and  shining.  In  any  case  the  hypo- 
thallus  is  a  prominent  feature;  generally  laminated  and  of  two 
or  three  layers,  it  is  in  the  more  hemispheric  a^thalia  very 
much  more  complex,  sponge-like.  When  thin  this  structure  is 
remarkable  for  its  wide  extent,  40-50  cm. !     The  simpler  forms 


TUBIFERA 


155 


approach  very  near  to  Cribmria  through  C.  aygillacax.  The 
most  complex  remind  us  of  Rntiridiuni. 

This  is  PcricJuciia  acspitosa  Peck.  In  this  country  it  has, 
however,  been  generally  distributed  as  L.  cffiisa  \\\\x.  This 
author  throws  some  doubt  on  the  species  he  describes  by  sug- 
gesting that  the  plasmodium  may  be  red.  The  description, 
however,  and  figures  are  otherwise  good  and  are  established  by 
the  usage  of  Rostafinski.  The  plasmodium  has  much  the  same 
color  as  the  mature  fruit. 

Widely  distributed.  New  England  to  the  Black  Hills,  south 
to  Arkansas. 

2,   Tubifera  Gmclin. 

1791.     7///^//i?;-rt  Gmelin,  i)'j/'.  yVaA,  II.,  p.  147.^. 

Sporangia  tubular,  by  mutual  pressure  more  or  less  pris- 
matic, connate,  pale  ferruginous  brown,  iridescent,  the  walls 
thin,  slightly  granular,  long,  persistent ;  dehiscence  apical ; 
hypothallus  thick,  spongiose,  white  or  whitish ;  spore-mass  fer- 
ruginous. 

This  genus  is  easily  recognized  by  the  tubular  sporangia, 
destitute  of  capillitial  threads,  seated  upon  a  strongly  develoj^ed 
hypothallus.  The  synonymy  of  the  case  is  somewhat  difficult. 
It  is  possible  that  Mueller's  Tubulifcra  ccratmn,  Fl.Daii.  Kllevte 
Haefte,  1775,  p.  8,  may  belong  here,  but  neither  the  text  nor  the 
figures  make  it  certain.  Neither  he  nor  G£der,  who  gives  us 
T.  armor  in  the  same  work,  had  any  accurate  idea  of  the  objects 
described.  Gmelin's  description  of  Tubifera,  II.,  2,  1472,  is, 
however,  ample,  and  his  citations  of  Bulliard's  plates  leave  no 
doubt  as  to  the  forms  he  included.  Gmclin  writes  :  "  Theca; 
(membrane  expansa-  superimiDositce)  inter  se  coiinatcu  seminibus 
nudiusculis  re])leta ." 

Why,  in  face  of  so  good  a  descri|)tion,  Persoon  changed  the 
name  to  that  since  current,  TubH/itio,  is  not  clear. 

Fries  thinks  Mueller  had  an  immature  Arryria  before  him, 
Syst.  Jllyi'.,  III.,  p.  196.  TubuUfera  aracJnioidca  Jacq.,  1778,  is 
also  an  uncertain  quantity,  iiiaurficiently  described. 


>i'] 


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156 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN-  SLIME-MOULDS 


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Key  to  the  Species  of  Tubifera. 

A.  Hypothallus  well  developed,  but  not  conspicuous. 

a.  rscudo-coluniellx'  present  at  least  in  many  of  the  tubules, 

3.  T.  casparyi 

b.  Pseudo-columellae  none    .         .         .         .  l.   T.  fcrriiginosa 

B.  Hypothallus  prominent,  columnar     .         .         .         .       1.   T.  stipitata 

I.    Tubifera  ferruginosa  {Batsch)  Macbr. 

Pi  MK  I.,  Fig.  4;   Platk  VII.,  Fig.  8;   Pi.atk  XIi.,  Fig.  14. 
Stii/ii'iii/is  ferrui^^inosa  Batsch,  Elcnch.,  p.  261.  Fig.  175. 


17S6. 
1 791. 
1 791. 

1805. 
1875. 


Splicerocarpits  cylitidrictis  Bull.,  CI  amp.,  p.  140.  t.  470.  ill. 
fiibifcra  fcrrui^htosa  Gmclin,  Syst.  A^at.,  p.  1472  {ex  parte). 
Tubulina  cylimlrka  (Bull.)  DC,  Fl.  /•>-.,  671. 
Tiduilina  cylindrica  (Bull.)  Rost.,  Moii.,  p.  220. 
1894.     Tubulina  frai^iformis  (Pers.)  Lister,  Mycetozoa,  p.  153. 

Sporangia  crowded,  cylindric  or  prismatic,  elongate,  connate, 
more  or  less  distinct  above,  pale  umber  brown,  generally  simple 
though  occasionally  branched  above,  the  peridia  thin,  sometimes 
fragile,  but  generally  persistent,  transparent,  iridescent ;  hypo- 
thallus strongly  developed,  spongiose,  white,  often  projecting 
beyond  the  a^thalioid  mass  of  sporangia ;  spore-mass  umber 
brown  or  ferruginous ;  spores  by  transmitted  light  almost  color- 
less, plainly  reticulate  over  three  fiHU'ths  of  the  surface,  6-7  /x. 

Not  rare  on  old  logs,  mosses,  etc.,  from  Maine  to  Alaska. 
Apparently  m^re  common  north  than  south.  Easily  known  by 
its  long,  tubular  sporangia  packed  with  rusty  spores  and  desti- 
tute of  any  trace  of  columella  or  capillitium,  the  hypothallus 
explanate,  rather  thick,  but  not  columnar.  A  single  Plasmo- 
dium may  give  rise  to  one  or  several  colonies,  at  first  watery  or 
white,  then  red,  of  somewhat  varying  shades,  then  finally  umber 
brown.  These  colors  were  noticed  by  all  the  older  authors,  but 
very  inaccurately ;  thus  a  white  plasmodiimi  is  the  basis  for 
Tubifera  cylindrica  (lUill.)  Gmel.,  a  roseate  plasmodium  for 
Tubifera  fyagifor))iis  (lUill.)  Gmel.,  and  the  mature  fructification 
for  Tubifera  ferruginosa  (liatsch)  Gmel.  Rostafinski  adopted  a 
specific  name  given  by  Bulliard,  but  Batsch  has  clear  priority. 

The  peridia  arc  sometimes  acuminate,  and  widely  separate 
above.     This  is  I'ersoon's  T.  fragiforinis.     In  most  cases,  how- 


r 


TUBIFERA 


157 


ever,  the  peridia  arc  connate  throughout,  and  sometimes  present 
above  a  membranous  common  covering.  This  is  T.  fallax  of 
Persoon  ;  Z/V<(C  g'/Zz/r/yAv?  (  Bull.)  Fries.  In  forms  with  thicker 
peridia,  the  walls  often  show  the  granular  markings  characteris- 
tic of  the  entire  Aiioiwcc. 

2.  TuBiFERA  STIPITATA  (/n-;-/-.  (7;i(i  Raz'.)  J/'crc/^r. 

186S.     L/ci'a  stipitata  I5erk.  and  Rav..  'Jour.  Linn.  Soc,  X.,  p.  350. 
1875.     Titbnlina  stipitata  (Berk,  and  Rav.)  Rest. 

Sporangia  crowded  in  a  globose  or  more  or  less  hemispheric, 
expanded  head,  borne  upon  a  spongy,  stem-like,  sulcate  hvpo- 
thallus,  their  apices  rounded,  their  walls  very  thin,  evanescent; 
spores  in  mass  umber  brown,  small,  about  5  /li,  the  epispore 
reticulate  as  in  the  last. 

Differs  from  the  preceding  chiefly  in.  the  cushion-like  recep- 
tacle on  which  the  crowded  sporangia  are  borne,  and  in  the 
smaller  spores.  This  species  originates  in  a  plasmodium  at  first 
colorless,  then  white,  followed  by  salmon  or  buff  tints,  which 
pass  gradually  into  the  dark  brown  of  maturity.  This  peculiar 
succession  of  colors  is  perhaps  more  diagnostic  than  the  differ- 
ence in  habit.  The  spores  are,  however,  constantly  smaller  in 
all  the  specimens  we  have  examined. 

New  England,  New  York,  south  to  South  Carolina,  and  west 
to  South  Dakota. 

3.  TuBiFERA  CASPARVi  {Rost.)  jMiubr. 

Pi.ATK  XIl.,  I'Il;.  9. 
1S76.     SiphoptycJiinin  caspaiyi  Rost.,  J/('//.  App..  p.  32. 

Sporangia  closely  crowded,  tubular,  cylindric  or  prismatic  by 
mutual  pressure,  connate,  the  apices  rounded,  convex,  covered 
by  a  continuous  membrane,  umber  brown;  the  jxn-idia  firm,  ))er- 
sistent,  minutely  granular,  iridescent ;  hypothallus  well  devel- 
oped, thin,  brown,  explanate ;  pseudo-columellx'  erect,  rigid, 
traversing  many  of  the  sporangia,  and  in  some  instances  bound 
back  to  the  peridial  walls   by  slender,  membranous  bands  or 


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158 


T//E  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


threads,  a  pseudo-capillitium ;  spore-mass  dark  brown  or  umber, 
spores  by  transmitted  light  pale,  globose,  reticulate,  7.5-9  ft. 

This  \s  Siphoptychiitin  casparyi  Rost.  In  Bot.  Gaz.,  XV., 
p.  319,  Dr.  Rex  shows  that  the  relationships  of  the  species  are 
with  Titbifcra ;  that  the  so-called  columella  is  jjiobably  an 
abortive  sporangium,  the  so-called  capillitial  threads  having  no 
homology  with  the  capillitial  threads  of  the  true  columelliferous 
forms.  It  is  a  good  species  of  Tiibifcra,  nothing  more.  The 
tubules  are  shorter  than  in  cither  of  the  preceding  species ;  the 
spores  are  darker,  larger,  and  more  thoroughly  reticulate. 

The  Plasmodium  is  given  by  Dr.  Rex,  I.e.,  as  white,  then 
"  dull  gray  tinged  with  sienna  color,"  then  various  tones  of 
sienna  brown,  to  the  dark  umber  of  the  mature  cethalium. 

New  York,   Adirondack   Mountains ;  Allamakee   Co.,   Iowa. 

D.   ORCADELLE^. 

Sporangia  distinct,  minute,  long  stipitate,  opening  above  by 
a  distinct  lid. 

A  single  genus,  — 

Orcadella  Wingate. 

1889.     Orcadella  Wingate.  Proc.  PJiil.  Acad.,  i).  280. 

Sporangia  furnished  with  rigid,  unpolished  stipes,  blending 
above  with  the  substance  of  the  thick  unpolished  walls ;  the 
operculum  thin,  delicate,  membranaceous. 

A  single  species,  — 

I.  Orcadella  operculata   Wiugate. 

Plate  XIL,  Vvg.  11. 
i88g.     Orcadella  operculata  Wingate,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  280. 

Sporangia  scattered,  gregarious,  ellipsoidal,  ovoid,  obconical 
or  nearly  globose,  dull  brown  or  blackish,  the  wall  simple,  thick, 
coarse,  at  the  top  replaced  by  a  delicate,  thin,  yellowish,  iri- 
descent, lustrous  or  vernicose  mcmbrano  wnith  •..•  .ns  a  circu- 
lar, smooth,  or  wrinkled  lid,  soon  decidiiudL     stipe  of   ',;arying 


\  . 


CRIBRARIA 


159 


height,  rough  from  deposit  of  plasmodic  refuse ;  spores,  in  mass 
yellowish,  globose,  smooth,  8-ir  ^i. 

This  curious  little  si^ecic:-,  well  described  by  its  discoverer 
appears  to  be  very  rare.  At  least  it  is  seldom  collected ;  over- 
looked by  reason  of  its  minuteness.  It  affects  the  bark  of 
species  of  Quercus,  and  seems  to  be  associated  there  with  Clasto- 
derma  dcbcDymium.     N.  A.  F.,  i^c^y, 

Pennsylvania,  Maine. 

E.    CRIBRARIE/E. 

Sporangia  distinct,  more  or  less  closely  gregarious,  stipitate 
the  peridium  opening,  especially  above,  by  a  well-defined  network 
formed  from  thickenings  in  the  original  sporangial  wall. 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  CribrarieEB. 

A.  Peridial  thickenin-s  in  form  of  an  apical  net  with  definite  tliickenin-s 

at  the  intersections  of  tiie  component  threads  .     .        i    Ckwr  m-u 

B.  Peridial  thickenin-s  in  form  of  parallel  meridional  ribs  connected  bv 

delicate  transverse  threads ,.  Dictvoicm 


1.    Cribraria  {Pas.)  Schmder. 

1794-     Cribraria  Persoon,  Riimer,  iV.  Bat.  Ma,^^.,  I.,  p.  gj  (in  part). 
1797-     Cribraria 'S>c\ix:s,^Qr,  N'ov.  Gen.  Plant.,  \).  \. 

Sporangia  distinct,  gregarious  or  closely  crowded,  globose  or 
obovoid,  stipitate ;  the  stipe  of  very  varying  length ;  the  peri- 
dium simple,  marked  within  by  distinct  and  peculiar,  granular, 
thickenings,  which  below  take  the  form  of  radiating  ribs,  sup- 
porting the  persisting  cup,  calyculus,  and  above,  by  extremely 
delicate  anastomosing  branches,,  unite  to  weave  a  more  ..r  less 
regular  net  with  open  polygonal  meshes ;  spores  vari.nis,  more 
often  yellr,wish  or  ochraceous,  sometimes  brown,  reddish,  or 
purple. 

The  genus  Cribraria,  as  limited  by  Persoon,  included  all  forms 
in  which  the  peridium    is  thin,  evanescent  half-way  down,  or 


KA*. 


w 


I 


1 60 


TV//;  XORTIl  AMERICAiY  SLIM i:~MOULl)S 


entirely,  and  in  which  the  capillitiiun,  as  V  -rsoon  regarded  the 
case,  is  formed  ot"  a  network  of  reticulate  hreads  surrounding 
the  sjjores.  Schrader  redefined  the  genus ;  opposed  Persoon's 
view  as  to  the  caj)illitial  nature  of  the  net,  and  sej^arated  the 
genus  Dictydiinn,  Init  by  imperfect  limitations,  —  in  fact,  chieHy 
because  of  the  more  completely  evanescent  pcridium.  Fries 
follows  Schrader.  Rostahnski  first  clearly  separated  the  two 
genera,  and  his  classification  is  here  adopted. 

As  to  the  habitat  of  the  Cribrarias,  the  remark  of  Schrader  is 
still  pertinent  —  "  in  vctustissimis  plenaria:^  destructionis  proxi- 
mis  arborum  truncis  "  —  for  all  the  species.  Rotten  coniferous 
wood  seems  to  be  preferred,  but  the  decayed  logs  of  trees  of 
other  orders  are  by  no  means  refused.  Rotten  oak  forms  a 
very  common  habitat. 


li- 


li 


'{■ 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Cribraria. 

A.     Sporangia  witli  spores  ochraccous  or  brownish. 

a.  Sporangia  larger,  .5  mm.  or  more. 

1.  Net  poorly  developed,  sometimes  merely  indicated, 

I.    C.  argillacca 

2.  Net  cons]-)icuous,  nodes  expanded. 

i.    Calyculus  reticulately  thickened  .     2.    C.  >iiacrocarpa 
ii.    Calyculus  marked  hv  simple  radiant  lines  or  ribs  ;  free 
ends  in  tlic  net  almost  none,      5.    C.  anraiitiaca 
iii.    Nodules  well  developed. 

*  In  tlie  net  free  ends  common,      6.    C.  diciydioidcs 
**  Nodules  joined  by  parallel  threads, 

7.    C.  i at  r  teat  a 

b.  Sporangia  small,  less  than  .5  mm. 


I. 
2. 


Nodes  not  exj^andcd 
Nodes  well  shown. 


3.    C.  Diinutissima 


i.    Calvculus  distinctly  marked  by  radiant  lines. 


ii.    Calyculus  minute  or  none 
iii.    Calyculus  replaced  by  ribs 


g.    C.  toiclla 

10.    C.  /Jiicrflcai'pa 

4.    C.  sploidcns 


B.     Sporangia  more  or  less  marked  with  purple  or  violet  tints 


Purple  or  violet  tlirougluuit. 

1.  Net  poorly  develoi)ed 

2.  Net  well  deyelo];)ed. 


II.    C.  violacca 


r;    !  \ 


i.    Meshes  regular  and  the  nodes  distinct,    13.    C.  clci^ans 

12.    C.  purpurea 


ii.    Meshes  and 


nocuiles  irregular 


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CK/IiRAR/A 


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b.    Purple  tints  confined  Lhictly  to  the  calyciilns  and  stipe. 
Net  with  nt)des  well  expanded. 

i.    Stipe  siiort,  not  more  than  doulile  the  sporangium; 
net  and  calyculus  both  well  develniifd. 

8.    C.  piyifoniiis 
ii.    Stipe  many  times  the  sporani^ium,  weak. 

14.    C.  laiii^KCSLCns 
iii.    Stipe  slender,  sporangium  copper-colored, 

15.    C".  ciiprca 

I.    Ckibrakia  argillacea  Pcrsoon. 

ri.AiK  XII.,  1mj,'s.  12,  13;    riAiK  XVII.,  l-i^;.  I. 

1791.     Steiiioiiitis  ari^illacea  (I'ers.)  (imelin,  .SV.v/.  Xat .,  II..  j).  1469. 
1796.     Cribraria  argillacea  Pers.,  Obs,  Myc,  I.,  p.  90. 

Sporangia  dull  ochraccous-olivaceous,  globose,  nearly  i  mm.  in 
diameter,  ses.sile  or  short  stipitate,  closely  gregarious  or  crowded, 
the  peridial  walls  at  maturity  smooth,  shining,  except  above,  long- 
persistent,  obscurely  reticulate,  with  irregular  thickenings  which 
at  the  apex  at  length  present  the  appearance  of  an  irregular 
coarsely  meshed  net  without  nodal  thickenings;  stipe  very  short, 
stout,  erect,  reddish  brown ;  spore-mass  ochraceous,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  pale,  spinulose,  5-6  11. 

This  species  stands  just  on  the  border  line  between  Tubifcra 
and  Cribraria.  While  on  the  one  hand  it  possesses  many  char- 
acters such  as  the  habit,  form  of  sporangium,  which  are  dis- 
tinctly Tubuline,  on  the  other  it  shows  in  the  upper  j)eridial 
wall  definite  reticulations  which  suggest  Cribraria.  In  freshly 
formed  sporangia  the  reticulations  are  barely  visible  in  the 
crown ;  later  on  they  are  more  manifLSt,  until,  as  s]K)re  dis- 
persal proceeds,  the  Cribraria  characters  come  out  with  suffi- 
cient distinctness,  and  in  empty  sporangia  the  reticulations  may 
be  seen  to  affect  the  entire  peridial  wall.  The  nodes  are  not 
expanded.  The  spores  are  pale  by  transmitted  light,  spinulose, 
about  6  [i.  Plasmodium  lead-colored.  Found  sometimes  in 
large  patches  on  rotten  logs  of  various  species.  Not  uncom- 
mon.    Cf.  Liiuibladia  cffitsa. 

New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina, 
Ohio,  Ilhnois,  Iowa,  Washington. 


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162 


n/E  iXORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


2.  Ckibkakia  macrocari'A  Schradcv. 

ri.ATK   XV 11.,    Fig.    2. 

1797.     Cribraria  tnacrocarpa  Schrad.,  Nov.  Gen.  Plant..,  p.  8. 

Sporanj^ia  more  or  less  closely  greijarious,  yellowish  brown, 
pear-shaped  or  obovate,  large,  .8-1  mm.  in  diameter,  stipitate ; 
stipe  brown  furrowed,  erect  or  often  nodding,  about  equal  to 
the  sporangium  or  longer ;  calyculus  distinct,  marked  by  numer- 
ous dark  brown  radiating  ribs,  iridescent,  perforate  above, 
deeply  dentate,  and  merging  gradually  into  the  elegant  network, 
of  which  the  dark  nodes  are  more  distinctly  expanded  about 
half  way  uj),  less  so  at  the  aj^ex  and  below,  the  filaments  ex- 
ceedingly delicate,  simple,  with  occasional  free  ends  projecting 
into  the  small  meshes ;  spore-mass  yellowish,  spores  by  trans- 
mitted light  almost  colorless,  minutely  roughened,  5-6  /a. 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  characteristic  of  the  present  spe- 
cies, aside  from  its  large  size,  is  the  peculiarly  perforated  cup 
or  calyculus.  Schrader's  artist  failed  him  here  entirely.  The 
structure  is  exceedingly  delicate,  the  peridium  between  the  ribs 
and  reticulations  reduced  to  the  last  degree  of  tenuity,  with  the 
iridescence  of  the  soap-bubble,  here  and  there  lapsed  entirely. 
Withal  the  structure  seems  firm  enough,  and  persists  until  all 
the  spores  are  dissipated  by  the  wind. 

Easily  distinguished  from  the  preceding,  its  only  rival  in  size, 
by  the  obovate  or  turbinate  netted  sporangium,  its  much  longer 
stem,  and  flat,  perfectly  formed  nodes. 

Rare.     New  York,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina. 

3.  Cribraria  minutissima  ScJnvcinitz. 

ri.ATK  XVII.,  Figs.  6,  6a. 
1832.     Cribraria  luinutissiina  Schw.,  N.  A.  F.,  Xo.  2362. 

Sporangia  scattered,  orange  or  nut  brown,  very  minute,  .1-.5 
mm.,  or  less,  globose  or  ellipsoidal,  stipitate,  erect  or  nodding; 
hypothallus  none;  stipe  short,  1-3  times  the  sporangium,  fili- 
form, tapering  upward,  brown ;    the  calyculus   variable,  some- 


I 


CR/IiRAR/A 


lf'3 


times  well  marked  and  separated  from  the  net  when  fully 
mature,  by  a  shallow  constriction,  more  commonly  small  or  en- 
tirely wanting',  especially  in  the  spherical  sporanj,na ;  net  simple, 
lar{,^e-meshed,  without  nodal  expansions,  the  threads  flattened; 
spore-mass  yellow,  spores  by  transmitted  liL;ht,  pale,  nearly 
smooth,  5-6  IX. 

A  most  beautiful  tiny  species.  Generally  in  all  the  specimens 
before  us,  a  perfect,  spherical  net,  firm  en()Ui;ii  to  rel;iin  its 
place  and  structure  after  all  the  sj^ores  have  been  scuttered. 
When  mature  the  spore-mass  seems  to  roll  about  as  a  bail, 
freely  within  the  net,  the  spores  bein^c  thus  .gradually  disi)ersed. 
The  calcylus  when  present  is  without  veins.  C.  iiiiiiiiiid  J5. 
and  C.,  and  C.  micvoscopica  H.  and  C,  are  doubtless  the  same 
thinf,^     Crcv.,  I.1,,  p.  67,  1873     See  also /A^A  Gaa.,  XIX.,  p.  3(>7, 

Rare.  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina,  Missouri,  Iowa;  Black 
Hills,  South  Dakota. 


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fili- 
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4.    Ckibkaria  si'LENDEN's  ( Sc/nddcr)  Pcrs. 

1797.     Didy  dill  III  spleitdcns  .Schrad.,  A'J'T'.  Gen.  /Y.,  p.  14. 
iSoi.     Cribraria  spleitdcns  (Schrad.)  Pers.,  Syii-  /■'itiii^..  p.  191. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  globose,  dusky  yellow  when  filled  with 
spores,  dull  or  dusky  brown  when  these  are  discharged,  stipi- 
tate ;  stipe  long,  3-4  times  the  sporangium,  subulate,  erect- 
nodding,  brown;  hypothallus  none;  network  brown,  with  large 
meshes,  imperfectly  defined  nodes  and  flattened  threads  ;  calycu- 
lus  none,  its  place  supplied  by  nine  or  ten  distinct,  firm  ribs 
which  radiate  directly  from  the  stipe  and  sui)port  the  net, 
branching  to  blend  with  its  reticulations ;  spore-mass  yellow, 
spores  by  transmitted  light,  colorless,  smooth  or  nearly  so, 
6-7.5  IX. 

Of  this  species  two  specimens  only  arc  before  us,  one 
from  Muscatine  Count}-,  Iowa,  and  one  froni  Washington 
(state).  The  species  seems  thus  to  have  wide  range,  but  to  be 
exceedingly  rare.  It  differs  from  all  other  American  forms,  so 
far  described,  in  the  peculiar  development  of  the  calyculus. 
Rostafinski  emphasizes  the  persistence  of  the  peridial  wall  and 


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1 64 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


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the  peculiar  ^Meaming  of  the  metallic  tints,  displayed  hy  ail  the 
structures.  These  particulars  we  have  not  heen  able  to  verify. 
Such  characters  may  be  incident  to  a,L;e  or  conditions  of  devel- 
opment. At  all  events,  in  fornis  which  in  all  other  res])ects 
seem  to  a,t,n-ee  exactly  with  Rostalinski's  descriptions,  the  colors 
are  dull  and  without  any  noticeable  iridescence.  The  spores  in 
our  specimens  are  also  a  little  larger  than  quoted.  Rostafmski 
gives  5-6.5  ii\  IMassee,  5-7  /a. 

5.    Ckibr.vria  aurantiaca  Sclimdcr. 

I'l.ATK  .WII.,   Fij,'.  3. 
I7()7.     Crihraria  atiraiitiaca  .Sclirud..  Xtni.  Gen.  /'/.,  p.  5. 

Sjjorangia  gregarious,  spherical,  dusky  or  yellowish  stipitatc, 
nodding  ;  the  calyculus  variable,  generally  jirominent,  more  or 
less  distinctly  marked  by  fine,  delicate  radiating  venules,  the 
margin  denticulate,  the  teeth  numerous  and  slender,  supporting 
the  well-defined  globose  net ;  network  made  up  of  very  tenuous 
threads,  forming  rather  large  three  to  five  sided  meshes  with 
small,  irregular  brownish  nodules  and  showing  only  here  and 
there  a  free  extremity ;  stipe  generally  short,  two  or  three  times 
the  diameter  of  the  sporangium,  sometimes  longer,  tapering 
upward,  brown,  slender,  arcuate  above  ;  spore-mass  yellow  or 
ochraceous,  spores  by  transmitted  light  colorless,  5-6  /i,  almost 
smooth. 

This  widely  distributed  species  is  generally  recognized  by  the 
large  sporangia,  -S-.Q  mm.,  comparatively  short  stipe,  simple 
net,  and  more  or  less  orange  color.  The  color  is  an  uncertain 
thing  even  in  the  sporangia,  which  rise  from  one  plasmodium. 
Schrader,  however,  made  this  feature  so  far  diagnostic  that 
he  placed  the  more  pronouncedly  yellow  forms  in  the  species 
C.  anrcDitiaca  and  set  off  as  C.  vuhnrris  forms  in  which  more 
dusky  tints  prevail.  The  dark-colored  forms  have  also  usually 
longer  stijDes,  but  so  much  is  dependent  upon  the  climatic  condi- 
tions prevalent  at  the  time  of  fruiting,  that  this  feature  also  is 
indeterminate.  Rostafinski's  figures,  21  and  26,  Tab.  II.,  show 
the  characteristic  nodules  and  the  typical  net  structure.     It  is 


'd 


CRIIiRARlA 


165 


to  be  observed  thil   Fij^.  21    represents  higher  mngnification  ; 
otherwise  the  two  figures  are  very  iiiiKh  alike. 

New  l^ngi  md,  New  York,  Pennsylv;ini;i,  Maryland  and  South 
Ohio,  Washington,  California. 

6.    Ckiukakia  \)\cx\\^\(\\\w.i^  Ckc.  and  Italf. 

Pi. A  IK    I.,    l'i;,'S.    5,    5  ,1,    S  h. 

r8Si.     Cribraria  dictydioidcs,  Ckc.  and  liaif..  Ra:\  /■'uit'^.  .'l»i.,  475. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  ol  medium  size,  gk)bose,  cernuous,  stipi- 
tate;  the  stipe  long,  slender,  tajiciing  upwards.dull  brown  in  color; 
hypothallus  none;  the  calyculus  v:irial)'e,  sometimes  well  devel- 
oped, as  in  C.  aiiraiitiaca,  sometimes  rudimentary  or  rcjjresenled 
only  by  irregular,  node-like  ribs;  the  network  delicate,  the  meshes 
small,  tew-sitled;  the  ncxlules  large,  prominent,  brown,  irregular, 
with  many  radiating,  free,  projecting  threads,  beside  the  single 
continuous  filaments  which  pass  from  node  to  node  ;  spore-mass 
pale,  ochraceous;  spores  nearly  smooth,  colorless,  5   7  /-t. 

This  seems  to  be  the  most  common  Cribraria  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley.  It  is  generally  distinguished  by  the  scant  calvcu- 
lus  and  the  beautiful  richne.s  of  its  complex  net.  The  nodules, 
especially  above,  emit  filaments  in  all  directions,  but  are,  not- 
withstanding, united  bv  single,  unpaired  threads  only,  most  of 
the  filaments  being  free  at  the  distal  end.  The  calyculus  is 
often  entirely  absent,  and  this  would  seem  to  be  the  tyjjical 
condition  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  there  may  present  itself  a 
cup  as  distinct  as  in  C.  aurantiaca.  See,  for  this  variation,  lUd. 
Gaa.,  XIX.,  p.  398.  The  rather  large  sporangia,  .6  mm.,  and  the 
especially  numerous  radiating  threads,  seem  to  be  the  most  dis- 
tinctly diagnostic  characters,  and  these  are  sufficiently  constant 
to  sejiarate  this  species  easily  from  C.  intricata  on  the  one  hand 
and  C.  tcnclla  on  the  other. 

Abundant  on  rotten  logs  of  every  sort,  especially  oak ;  com- 
mon on  the  lower  side  of  rotting  pine  planks  in  wooden  walks 
along  the  streets.     N.  A.  F.,  2095,  seems  to  belong  here. 

Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  North  Carolina,  Missouri,  Illinois,  Iowa, 
Nebraska. 


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23  WIST  MAIN  STRICT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  I45S0 

(716)873-4503 


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1 66 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  S,UME-MOULDS 


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7.    Cribrakia  W'Y\<\Q.\-x\{Schrad.)  Rost. 

1797.     Crihraria  iutricata  Scliiad..  Nov.  Gen.  Pi..,  p.  7. 

Sporanj;ia  grc^^1rious,  globose,  larj^c,  .7-1  mm.  in  diameter, 
nut  brown  or  olivaceous,  erect,  ;  tipitate  ;  stipe  long,  slender, 
puriilish  brown,  tlcxuous;  calyculus  variable,  sometimes  occupy- 
ing one-third  of  the  sphere,  when  it  is  delicately  costate,  con- 
colorous  with  the  stipe,  and  passes  over  to  the  net  by  a  distinctly 
toothed  or  serrulate  margin,  sometimes  represented  by  irregular 
ribs  or  costcc  only ;  net  well  differentiated,  the  threads  delicate, 
transparent,  yellow,  connecting  large  black  nodules,  often  run- 
ning from  one  to  the  other  in'pairs  or  sometimes  three  together, 
free  ends  not  numerous,  the  meshes  few-sided,  often  triangular ; 
spores  in  mass,  dull  olivaceous,  under  the  lens  pallid,  nearly 
smooth,  d-y  IX. 

A  very  rare  species,  if  indeed  it  occur  ii;  this  country.  At 
least  the  form  figured  by  Rostafinski,  Tab.  II.,  Fig.  27,  and 
Massee,  PI.  i.  Fig.  11,  has  not  come  to  our  notice.  The  parallel- 
ism of  the  net  threads  is  a  touch  added  by  Rostafinski ;  Schrader 
does  not  mention  it.  Lister  makes  this  species  include  the  pre- 
ceding. The  form  described  in  Bull.  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.  la.,  II., 
p.  119,  is  C.  dictydioidcs. 

Reported  from  Nevv  England,  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania. 


8.    Cribraria  piriformis  ScJiradcr. 

V\..:\v.  XVII.,  rig.  9. 
1797.     Cribraria  piriformis  Sclirad.,  Nov.  Gen.  PL,  p.  4. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  sma^l,  .3-. 5  mm.,  turbinate  or  globose, 
erect,  purplish  brown,  stipitate  ;  stipe  comparatively  short,  taper- 
ing upward,  longitudinally  furrowed,  purple  or  brown  ;  calyculus 
very  w^ell  defined,  about  one-third  the  sporangium,  not  ribbed, 
flattened  or  even  umbilicate  below,  the  margin  plainly  denticu- 
late, dusky  brown  ;  the  net  simple,  the  meshes  large,  triangular, 
with  few  free  ends ;  the  nodules  small,  nearly  globular,  convex ; 
fjpore-mass  dull,  yellowish  brown  ;  spores  by  transmitted  light 
pale  ochraccous  or  salmon-tinted,  nearly  smooth,  5-6.5  fi. 


CRlIiRARIA 


1 6; 


t 


Schrader   defined   this   beautiful    form  chiefly  by  its  shape 
Th,s,  thouo-h  variable,  is  yet  generally  so  far  pyriform  as  to 
show  distinct   contraction  toward  the   stipe.     The  well-defined 
calyculus  ,s  narrowed  below  and  eroded  or  denliculate  above 
the    net  open,  uniform,  the  stipe  rather  stout    short,  and   dis- 
tinctly furrowed,  rising  often  from  a  small  hypothallus.     In  the 
formation  of  the  net  the  species    suggests  C.  tcnclla.  but  the 
latter  species  is  much  smaller,  has  a  different  stem,  much  lon-^er 
and    unfurrowed ;    the    calyculus  is  more  nearly  that  of   some 
forms  of  C.  intricata,  but  is  better  defined,  passing  into  the  net 
very  abruptly  by  the  simple  intervention  of  projecting  teeth 

Apparently  very  rare.     My  specimens  are  from   New  York 
through  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  Rex.     Virginia.  North  Carolina.    ' 

9-   Cribraria  tenella  Schmdcr. 

r.',ATE  XVII.,   Fig.   5. 

1797-     Cribraria  tenella  Schrad.,  Xov.  Gen.  PL,  p.  6. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  small,  .^-.^  mm.  in  diameter,  olivaceous 
or  ochraceous.  long-stipitate.  nodding  ;  stipe  slender,  dark  brown 
or  blackish,  very  long,  reaching  6  mm.,  weak  and  flexuous  • 
calyculus  variable,  sometimes  well  defined,  brown,  costate' 
sometimes  represented  by  the  costcc  only  connected  by  a  thin' 
transparent  membrane;  net  well  differentiated,  the  meshes 
small,  irregular,  the  nodes  small,  black,  more  or  less  globular 
prominent,  connected  by  transparent  threads  with  occasional  or 
numerous  free  ends;  spores  in  mass,  olivaceous-ochraceous 
under  the  lens  pallid,  globose,  smooth,  5-7  ^. 

Very  common  eastward  and  south,  on  the  weathered  surface 
of  rotten  wood.  Generally  easily  recognized  bv  its  very  long 
stipe,  small,  globose  sporangium  dotted  with  numerous  small 
roundish  nodules  projecting  plainly  above  the  general  surface 
The  obconic  calyculus  is  always  represented  in  the  outline  if  not 
m  definite  structure. 

New  England.  New  York.  Penn.sylvania.  Ohia.  Tennessee. 
lUinois.  Missouri,  Iowa. 


i 


,  \^ 


1 68 


THE  XORTII  AMERICAN-  SI.lME-MOi'LDS 


I') 


10.  Ckibkakia  mickocakpa  {ScJiviul.)  Pcrsoon. 

V\.\\v.  W  II..   lij,'.  .}. 

1797.     Diityditini  inicroav poii  Stliiad.,  .\\n>.  den.  J'l.,  \).  13. 
iSoi.     C) iliruriti  Jiihro' ijrpii  (.Sclirad.)  I'cis.,  AV;/.,  p.  190. 

Sjionin.L^iii  loosely  j^rc^ariou.s,  very  .small,  .2  .3  mm,  in  diameter, 
yellow  ochraceous,  stijiitate,  nodding;  stipe  comjiarativcly  stout, 
dark  brown  or  blackish,  tajicrini;  upward,  often  twisted  at  the 
ai)e.\  as  in  I).  cancclhUum ;  calyculus  none,  rcj^resented  by 
simple  ribs  which  give  off  at  intervals  free  or  floating  branchlets 
before  blending  into  the  common  net ;  net  well  leveloj^ed,  the 
meshes  large,  the  nodes. small,  irregular,  though  often  rounded 
and  prominent,  black,  connected  by  delicate  transparent  threads, 
with  free  ends  few  or  none;  spore-mass  yellow,  fading  to 
ochraceous ;  spores  pale,  smooth,  globose,  d-"]  /*. 

This  species  resembles  at  first  sight  the  preceding,  and  has 
been  often  confused  with  it.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  distinctions 
arc  generally  very  sharp.  In  the  first  place,  the  sporangia,  when 
carefully  measured,  are  seen  to  be  not  more  than  half  as  great 
in  diameter ;  the  meshes  of  the  net,  on  the  other  hand,  are  much 
wider,  the  whole  structure  less  compact.  The  nodules  arc  like 
those  of  tcnella,  but  are  much  fewer.  The  stipe  is  shorter,  and 
proportionately  stouter.  The  calyculus  is  almost  entirely  want- 
ing, and  the  costne  are  few  and  simple.  The  color  suggests  C. 
aiinintiaca.     The  habitat  and  distribution  as  C.  tcnella. 

Pennsylvania,  Missouri,  Iowa. 

11.  Ckibkaria  violacea  Rcx. 

ri.ATi:  XVII.,  Fir.  8. 
1 891.     Crihraria  violacea  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  393. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  very  small,  .2  mm.  in 
diameter,  violet  tinted,  erect,  stipitate ;  stipe  short,  about  one- 
half  the  total  height,  concolorous,  slender,  tapering  upward ; 
calyculus  crateriform,  persistent,  costate,  or  marked  with  minute 
plasmodic  granules ;  the  net  rudimentary  or  poorly  developed, 
the  meshes  large,  irregular,  the  nodules  also  large,  triangular, 
violaceous ;  spores  pale  violet  in  mass,  by  transmitted  light 
reddish,  7-8  /a,  minutely  warted. 


CRlliRARIA 


169 


A  very  minute  but  well-marked  species  discovered  hv  Dr.  Rev 
in  WissiUiickon  I'urk,  near  IMiiiadeli)hia,  otherwise  very  raie. 
Lister,  however,  rej)orts  it  Ironi  I'ji.t^iand.  In  minuteness  to  he 
comjiared  with  C.  nihiii/issiiiKi,  Irom  wliich  its  color  inslantlv 
distinj;uishes  it.  Dr.  Re.K  reports  the  plasmodium  as  "violet 
black."  All  our  specimens  are  on  very  rotten  wood,  basswood, 
'filid  (niitricann. 

Pennsylvania,  Illinois. 

12.     CkIMKARIA    I'LRI'LKE.A    Sc/imd. 

1797-     Cribraria  pur{>urea  Sclirad.,  X,)v.  Gen.  /'/.,  p.  8. 

Sporan^da  ^n-e^^arious,  lar^^^e,  r  mm.  in  diameter,  dark  purple, 
erect,  sti[)itate,  deprc.ssed--rl()bose ;  stipe  concolorous,  furrowed, 
about  twice  the  diameter  of  the  sporan<;ium  in  len.i^th,  with  a 
distinct  hypothallus;  calyculus  persistent,  less  than  half  the 
sporangium,  obscurely  ribbed,  marked  by  concentric  plications, 
the  margin  toothed  ;  the  net  poorly  differentiated,  the  meshes 
irregular  in  form  and  size,  as  are  also  the  flat,  unthickened  nodes, 
the  threads  pale,  free  ends  short  and  not  numerous ;  si)ore-mass 
purple;  .spores  by  transmitted  light,  pale  or  colorless,  5  6  /*, 
smooth. 

Rare.  Found  on  rotten  coniferous  wood  in  deeji  forests. 
Easily  recognized  by  its  large  size  and  uniform  purple  color. 
To  the  next  species  it  offers  a  general  resemblance,  but  has 
larger  sporangia  and  an  entirely  different  net.  The  ])lasmo- 
dium  just  before  the  formation  of  the  fruit  is  scarlet. 

Maine,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ontario. 

13.    C\<\\^\<\\\\xv.\.Ys\\^'?,  Bilk,  and  Curt. 

1873.     Cribraria  elci^ans  Ikrk.  and  Curt.,  Grr.'.,  II.,  p.  67. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  erect  or  nodding,  small,  .4-. 5  mm., 
bright  purple,  .stipitate  ;  stipe  long,  slender,  tapering  upward, 
almost  black,  arising  from  a  scanty  hypothallus;  calyculus  about 
half  the  sporangium,  finely  ribbed,  covered  especially  above 
with  small  purple  granules,  the  margin  toothed  or  jierforate ; 
net  well  developed,  the   meshes   small,  polygonal,  the  threads 


.1 


i- 


I/O 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME  MOULDS 


fcl 


|i'.i 


delicate,  colorless,  with  many  free  ends,  the  nodules  dark-colored, 
numerous  and  somewhat  prominent ;  spore-mass  pale  purple ; 
spores  by  transmitted  lij;ht  pale  violaceous,  smooth,  6-6.5  /x. 

To  be  compared  with  the  jireccding.  The  small-meshed  net 
with  well-defined,  dark-colored  nodules  is  distinctive,  aside  from 
the  fact  of  the  much  smaller  sporangia.  The  stipe  is  also 
different,  more  slender,  smooth,  and  darker-colored.  The 
habitat  of  the  two  species  appears  to  be  the  same.  The  present 
species  is  much  more  common,  ranges  farther  west,  and  is  to 
be  looked  for  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

New  York,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina,  Missouri,  Iowa; 
Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

14.    Ckibkaria  languescexs  Rcx. 

iSgi.     C  ■braria  lijiii^iicscens  Rcx,  Jhvc.  Phil.  Acad..,  p.  394. 

Sporangia  scattered,  v'cry  minute,  .25-.35  mm.,  spherical,  long- 
stipitate,  drooping;  .stipe  2.5-3  nim.,  slender,  fle.xuous,  subulate, 
rugulose ;  calyculus  about  one-third  the  sporangium,  reddish 
l>rown,  shining,  minutel}  striate  with  granular  lines,  the  margin 
more  or  less  regularly  serrate ;  net  reddish  brown,  the  meshes 
triangular  and  the  threads  simple,  the  nodes  large,  polygonal, 
flat,  but  well  differentiated ;  the  spores  when  fresh  dull  red  in 
mass,  paling  with  age ;  by  transmitted  light  colorless,  6 /a,  smooth. 

A  very  singular  species,  easily  recognizable  by  its  very  long, 
slender  stipes,  terminating  in  exceedingly  small  spherical  spo- 
rangia. The  colors  are  obscure,  but  the  striations  on  the  calycu- 
lus are  viol<it-tinted,  and  the  reds  perhaps  predominate  elsewhere. 
"In  its  scattered  and  .solitary  growth,  its  tall,  slender  stipes,  and 
relaxed  habit  it  resembles  C.  microcavpa,  in  its  network  it 
approaches  C.  tcnclla,  and  its  spores  have  the  color  of  the  paler 
forms  of  C.  purpurea."  So  Dr.  Rex,  I.e.  Western  forms  of  the 
first-named  species  have  much  shorter  stipes ;  the  network  in 
the  specimens  before  us  is  unlike  that  of  C.  tcnclla^  but  resembles 
that  of  C.  purpurea. 

Rare,  on  very  rotten  wood,  in  the  forest.  New  York,  Ohio, 
South  Carolina. 


DJCTYDILWr 


171 


iS-     CKrnKAKiA  cuprti-A  Arof^.^u. 

1893.     Cribraria  cuprca  Mot-.. /,;;/,-.  fin.  S,k:,  p.  16. 
Sporan.^Mun,  very  small.  .33  n.m.,  oval  or  sumcuhat  „b„vc.icl 
copper-colorecl,  stipitatc,  nodding;  stipe  concolon.us  „r  darker 
be  ow  subulate,  curved  at  the  apex,  2-4  times  the  sporan^iun.  ■ 
calyculus    about    one-half    the    sporan;,ium.    fmelv    ribbed    -uui 
tcranulose  within,  the  imu-in  nearly  even  ;  the  .^Jt  ratlier  rudi- 
mentary,   the    meshes    laro-e.    triangular   or    quadrilateral,    the 
nodules  also  lar^^e,  Hat.  concolorous.  the  threads  slender   trans 
parent,  with  free  ends  few;  spores  in  mass  copper-colored'  by 
transmitted  light  colorless,  smooth,  6~;  fi. 

Recognizable  by  its  small  size  and  peculiar  color,  that  of 
bright  copper,  although  this  fades  somewhat  with  age  and  the 
metallic  tints  are  then  lacking.  Related  to  the  preceding  and 
in  specimens  having  globular  sporangia  closely  resemblin-^  it  • 
but  the  ground  color  in  C.  /an^r,,,,,,,,  j,  ^^,,,.,^,^  ^j,^^^^.^^  ^^^^  ,\,i 
stipe  proportionally  much  longer.  In  habit  the  sporan-^'a  are 
widely  scattered,  much  more  so  than  is  common  in  the  "pecies 
of  this  genus. 

Comparatively  rare.  Before  us  is  one  very  small  colony  of 
sporangia  from  Iowa,  one  from  Ohio,  and  a  large  number  from 
Missouri.  If  one  may  judge  from  material  at  hand,  the  favorite 
habitat  is  very  rotten  basswood,  Ti/ia  amcricana. 


2.    ^\Z\.y^mm{Schyad.)  Rost. 

Sporangia  distinct,  gregarious,  globose  or  depressed-globose 
stipitate,  cernuous;  the  peridium  very  delicate,  evanescent' 
thickened  on  the  inside  by  numerous  meridional  costa^  which 
are  joined  at  frequent  intervals  by  fine  transverse  threads  more 
or  less  parallel  to  each  other,  forming  a  persistent  network  of 
rectangular  meshes. 

The  ribs  or  costae  of  the  spore-case  radiate  from  the  top  of 
the  stipe  and  unite  again  at  the  top  of  the  spr,rangium  in  a 
feebly  developed  irregular  net.     Schrader,  Nov.  Gen.  PI.,  p    1 1 


I 


I<!1 


172 


Till-:  NORTH  AM  ERICA  X  SUM  EMOL'l.DS 


1707,  ;ij)|)Iic(l  the  niiiiic  Dictydiiim  to  all  Cribyaria\\V<:.  species  in 
which  the  cal)culiis  was  wantin^^    Fries  follows  ;:his,  Syst.  .1/jr., 
I II.,  p.  164.    Rostafinski,  /  'trsin/i,  p.  5,  Jlon.,  p.  229,  first  correctly 
limits  the  genus  and  separates  it  from  Cribmrin.     1H73-75. 
A  single  species  is  widjly  distributed  throughout  the  world,  — 

I.     DicTvniuM  CANCELLATUM  {Bntsc/i)  Macbr. 

I'l.A I K  I.,   I'if^s.  6,  6  a. 

1789.  Mitcor  caiHclUxliis  IJatsch.  FJcnch.  FitUi^.,  II..  p.  131. 

1797.  Phtydiin/i  niiihiliiittuiii  Sclirad.,  Xov.  (Jen.  /'/.,  p.  1 1. 

I  So  I.  Cn7>r<in<i  ccniioi  Vein.,  Syfi.,  p.  189. 

1816.  Dicty  ilium  cent  mint  Necs,  Syst.  d.  I'ih.,  p.  117. 

1875.  Dictydimn  ccntiiiiiii  (I'crs.)  Ko.st.,  Moii.,  p.  229. 

1893.  DiciyUiuin  loiii^ipcs  Morgan,  Cin.  Soc.Joiir.,  p.  17  (in  part). 

Sporangia  gregarious,  dei)rcsscd  globose,  nodding,  the  apex 
at  length  umbilicate  stipitatc,  in  color  brown,  or  brownish  pur- 
ple ;  the  stijic  varying  much  in  length  from  two  to  ten  times  the 
diameter  of  the  sporangium,  attaining  5-6  mm.,  generally  erect, 
more  or  less  twisted  and  pallid  at  the  apex,  below  dark  brown, 
with  hypothallus  small  or  none;  calyculus  often  wanting,  when 
present  a  mere  film  connecting  the  ribs  of  the  net ;  the  net  made 
uj)  chiefly  of  meridional  ribs  connected  at  intervals  by  transverse 
parallel  threads,  above  an  open  Cn'braria-Vikc.  network  closing 
the  aj^ex  and  more  or  less  rudimentary;  the  spores  varying 
in  color  through  all  shades  of  brown  and  purple  when  seen  in 
mass,  by  transmitted  light  reddish,  5-7  fi,  smooth  or  nearly  so. 

This  species  in  the  United  States  is  one  of  the  most  variable 
in  the  whole  group.  The  extremes  of  such  variation  might 
easily  constitute  tyjies  for  several  distinct  species  were  it  not 
that  in  all  directions  the  varieties  shade  into  each  other  so 
completely  as  to  defy  definition.  We  have  before  us  specimens 
purple  throughout  and  shore-stemmed ;  purple  with  stem  long, 
pale  and  twisted  at  the  apex ;  brown,  with  the  same  variations ; 
short-stemmed,  with  the  apex  of  the  stem  pallid,  and  long- 
stemmed,  with  and  without  the  same  peculiarity.  Morgan 
(Cifi.  Soc.  A^at.  Hist.  Jour.,  1893)  would  set  off  the  purple,  long- 
stemmed  forms  as  D.  longi^cs,  "  stipe  three  to  five  times  the 


I  ;  ' 


DICTYDIUM 


173 


Ion 


»» 


Ions; 
long- 

ong- 


the 


sporangium,"  but  here  arc  forms  in  which  the  stem  is  ten  times 
the  diameter  of  the  sporangium,  which  yet  possess  in  all  otiier 
particulars  the  characters  of  the  short-stemmed  forms,  luno- 
pean  forms  also  vary.  Massee  figures  one  tvjie;  Liste»-,  one  or 
two  others  ;  Rostahnski's  figure  indicates  a  taller  form  ;  l'"ries 
says,  "  Stipes  elongatus,  peridio  quinquies  et  ultra  longior."  It 
seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  variation  in  color  is  hugely 
due  to  atmospheric  conditions  at  the  time  of  fruiting.  The 
purple  forms  may  be  cases  of  arrested  devch^pment,  since  the 
Plasmodium  appears  to  be  in  all  cases  j)urple,  or  at  least  they 
seem  to  represent  those  plasmodia  which  have  failed  of  normal 
maturation,  K.xposure  to  light  has  also  much  to  do  in  deter- 
mining final  color.  Forms  developed  in  obscure  places  are  less 
differentiated  in  this  respect.  It  would  .seem  reasonable  to  seek 
a  ground  of  division  in  the  structure  of  the  net,  the  number  of 
the  ribs,  the  coarseness  or  fineness  of  the  meshes,  but  this  ap- 
pears to  be  entirely  inconstant  in  specimens  arising  from  the 
same  plasmodium.  It  may  perhaps  simplify  matters  to  recog- 
nize two  general  types,  distinguished  primarily  by  color :  — 

a.  D.  canccllatmn  ciDiccllatuni.  —  Sporangia  clear  brown  or 
with  only  a  purplish  tinge,  the  stipe  tapering  upward,  and  in 
extreme  cases  perfectly  white  at  the  twisted  apex.  The  stipe 
in  leuLTth  ran<res  from  three  to  ten  times  the  diameter  of  the 
sporangium.  The  reticulations  of  the  net  are  generally  small 
and  the  ribs  numerous.  This  is  the  most  highly  differentiated, 
finished  type  of  the  species. 

h.  D.  caiiccUatiini  piirpHvcum. — Sporangia  dark,  the  purjile 
tints  predominating,  the  stipe  tapering  upward,  more  or  less 
twnsted  at  the  paler,  sometimes  almost  colorless,  apex.  The 
stipe  ranges  a  little  shorter  than  in  the  preceding  variety,  three 
to  seven  times  the  sporangium.  The  reticulations  of  the  net 
are  often  coarse,  the  ribs  being  fewer ;  the  whole  structure  weak 
and  showing  signs  of  imperfect  development. 

Common  everywhere.  The  fruit  appears  in  Tunc  on  decaying 
logs  and  stumps  of  various  species  of  deciduous  trees,  conifers, 
etc. 


ill 


I 


( 


IJ 


t 

I 


■,' 


w 


'74 


TJ/l-:  XOKTJI  AMKJ^/CAX  SUM L-^MOCLDH 


Okdik  IV. 


LYCOGALACEiE. 


!J 


Fructification  u-thalioid ;  pcridium  membranaceous,  touj^h, 
simple,  without  vesiculose  with  protoplasmic  masses,  within 
gelatinous;  the  ca])illitium  of  cortical  origin,  consisting;'  of  irreg- 
ular lohate  or  branching  tubules,  var)in;;  much  in  width,  and 
marked  by  numerous  corru,LCations,  irregular  warts  or  bands  ; 
spores  minute,  ashen  or  pallid. 

This  order  includes  but  a  sinj^dc  genus, — • 

Lycogala  MicJuii. 

1729.     I.ycof-'^ala  Miclicli.  iW'T-,  Phnit.  Cicn..  pp.  216,217. 
1753.     I.ycopi'rdoii  LiniULiis.  Syst.  .\\U.  (in  ])art). 
1794.     lyiOi^alti  I'or.soon,  Riimur,  X.  Hot.  Mtii^.,  p.  87. 

Micheli's  description  and  figures,  Xov,  Plant.  Gen.,  pp.  216, 
217,  Tab.  95,  leave  no  doubt  but  that  this  illu.strious  man  had 
species  of  Ljcoi^ala  before  him  when  he  described  the  genus. 
His  Fig.  I  no  doubt  portrays  the  second  species  in  our  present 
list.  More  recent  writers,  from  Persoon  down,  have  used 
Micheli's  designation,  but  differed  in  regard  to  the  limits  to 
which  the  name  should  be  applied.  It  is  here  used  sub- 
stantially as  in  1729.  Fries  and,  after  him,  Rostafinski  make  a 
mistake  in  quoting  Retzius  as  writing  Lycoi^ala  (1769).  Retzius 
wrote  Lycopcrdoii  sessile^  Kongl.  Wtcnskcxps  Acad.  Handling, 
for  Ar,  1769,  p.  254. 


3.  L.  couknm 


Key  to  the  Speciss  of  Lycogala. 

A.  /F.tlialia  conical 

B.  /Etiialia  irret;ularly  globose. 

a.  Cortex  .smootli.  size  large  ...         2.  L.  flavo-fiiscimi 

b.  Cortex  minutely  roughened  or  warted  ;    about  half  an  incii  in 

diameter i.  L.cpidendrum 

c.  Cortex  rougli ;  diameter  one-fourth  an  inch  or  less, 

4.  L.  exii^niim 


T 


/.)C()i;.i/.A 


175 


I.    LvcofiAF.A  i.I'II>i:.ni)Ui;m  (////lA  ) /<>/>.<•. 

1721.     /,\\o/>,r,i,,>i  ef'utriuho,,.  itc.  liuvhauin.  A//.  /'/.  //<,/„  ,,.  ,03. 

1755.     /-.i''"/,v,/,'// ,yv</',v/,/';7/w  l.inii..  .S/^.  /'/..  |),  11S4. 

I«.V     Lyo^.tla  i-puicui,  ,„>,  ( I'.uxl..)  Fries,  Sy,t.  A/,,.,  m..  ,,.  ,So. 

/ICthalia  M.litary  „r  clustered,  depressed  spherical,  or.  when 
crowded,    irre-ular.    ..livaeeous    or    blackish,    miniitelv    warted 
3-10  mm.   in  diameter,  dehiscin-    irre-ularlv,    hut    m'o.v   oCten 
near  the  apex;   peridium  thin,  but  tot,:;h  and   persistent,  made 
up  ol   numerous  a--Iutinated  tubules  cnclosin-  in  their  meshes 
peculiar  cell-Hke  vesicles  ;  capillitium  parietal,  consisting  <,f  lon-^ 
branching,  and  anastomosin-  llattened  tubules  extended'inu  ardly 
amon-  the  spores,  everywhere  marked   bv  transverse  wrinkles 
nd-es,   and    warts,    the    free    ends   of    the    ultimate    branchlets 
rounded,  concolorous  with  the  spores;   spore-mass,  when  Iresh 
rosy,  or  ashen  with  a  rosaceous  or  purplish  tin-e.  becomin-  with 
a-e  sordid  or  ochraceous,  spores  by  transmitted  li-ht  colorless, 
minutely  rou-hened  or  reticulate,  5-6  fi. 

This  is  not  only  a  cosmopolitan  species,  but  is  no  doubt  the 
most  common  slime-mould  in  the  world.     I-ound  evervwhere  on 
decayin-  wood  of  all  .sort.s.  more  particularly  on  that  of 'deciduous 
trees.     It  has  likewi.se  been  Ion-  the  subject  of  observation      It 
IS  doid)tless  the  "/v/,<<r,/,  ,ocrnu,^s  "  of  Ra  v.  1690,  and  the  tNpe  of 
Micheirs  -onus  as  here,   17:29.     The  different  c.lors  assumed, 
from  the  rich  scarlet  of  the  emer-in-  Plasmodium  to  the  -listen- 
in-    bronze    of    the    newly    formed    luthalium,    have    suiT-ested 
various  descriptive  specific   names.  -  as   A.  ;,;n^/a/a    i'ei-s     A 
c/^a/j'/>an,i  of   Batsch.  and  L.  plnmbca  Schum.     The  peridimn 
IS  by  authors  described  as  double.     This  is  for  description  only. 
In   structure  the  outer  and   inner  peridium   completelv   blend 
The  outer  is   prer.^ominately  vesiculr,se,  the  inner  more  --eiiti- 
nous.     For  discu.ssion  of  the  microscopic  structure  see  'muler 
the  next  species. 

Common.  New  En-land,  west  to  Nebraska,  .South  Dakota, 
Colorado.  Washin-ton.  Oregon,  and  California. 

Lycogala  tcnrstrc  TV..  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  i^i,  appears  to  be  a 
variety  of  the  present  species.     In  spores  and  capillitial  thread 


1 


r 


176 


niE  NOKTH  AM  I'M  iC  AX  Sl.LME  MOULDS 


the  ffirms  arc  indistiii^^iiishahlc ;  the  (hfforcticc  is  a  matter  of 
si/0,  and  to  some  extent,  of  the  color  of  the  wall.  The  speci- 
mens are  a  hltle  lar^^er,  depressed  and  an;;uhir.  The  pericUuin 
is  |)aler,  smoother,  though  sometimes  ahnost  black,  thin,  rup- 
tured irregularly.  lUit  the  form  ami  color  of  the  peridium  in 
the  sporocarps  of  the  older  species  vary  much  in  res|)onse  to 
external  conditions;  on  a  substratum  affordin^^  scant  nutrition 
the  forms  ol  fructification  are  minute;  and  in  all  cases,  if 
maturity  be  hastened,  the  jieridium  responds  in  darker  colons. 
Untler  more  favorable  conditions  the  wall  is  smoother  and 
bri^htc)'. 


,  '» 


'  I  ■!  1 


2.     LVCOOALA   FI.AVO-FUSCUM  (FJir.)  Rost. 

1818.  Dip/it/ienum  /hivo-fu.sini/i  I'lir.,  Syl.  My(\  UeioL,  p.  27. 

1S29.  A'l-tiiiildriit /l<r.u>-/iisia  (Illir.)  Fiies.  Sysl.  .]/}'<..  III.,  p.  88. 

1.S75.  I.yco^itlti  jLn't^-fiiSiitin  (IClir. )  Kost..  i'tTsui/t.,  p.  3. 

1875.  Lyco^alii  jLivo-fnsiiiiii  (Klir.)  Rost.,  Man.,  p.  28S. 

yl<!thalia  solitary  or  sometimes  two  or  three  top^cther,  larfjc, 
2-4  cm.  in  diameter,  spherical  or  spheroidal,  purplish  gray  or 
brown,  smooth,  sh 'ling ;  the  periilium  thick,  simple,  bur  in 
microscopic  section  showin<;  two  or  three  successive  layers; 
capillitium  of  abundantly  branching;,  irregular,  transparent 
tubules,  marked  by  numberless  warts  and  transverse  rings  or 
wrinkles ;  sjjores  in  mass  yellowish  gray,  by  transmitted  light 
colorless,  smooth  or  only  faintly  reticulate  or  roughened,  5-6  /u.. 

This,  one  of  the  largest  and  most  striking  of  the  slime-moulds, 
is  by  students  generally  mistaken  for  a  i)uff-ball.  It  occurs  on 
stumps  and  rotten  logs  of  various  sorts  in  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
more  often  affecting  stumps  of  Acer  saccJiarinuin  L.  The 
fructification,  when  solitary,  about  the  size  of  a  walnut,  though 
sometimes  much  larger ;  when  clustered,  individuals  are  much 
smaller.  The  form  depends  largely  upon  the  place  in  which 
the  fruit  is  formed.  The  i)lasm()dic  mass  is  so  large  that  its 
form  is  determined  by  gravity.  Thus  on  the  lower  surface  of  a 
log  raised  a  little  distance  from  the  earth  the  i-cthalium  is  often 
pyriform.     This  fact  did  not  escape  Micheli.     See  Nov.  Plant, 


6/A. 

oulds, 
irs  on 
[alley, 
The 
ough 
I  much 
(which 
[at  its 
ic  of  a 
often 


WCOC.ILA 


m 


Ccn.^  Tab.  95.  The  plasniotliuni  is  pale  pinU,  soon  Ijccomes  buff 
when  exposed  in  fruilinL;,  liiuilly  pallid  or  soiiiewhal  livid,  and 
is  outwaiilly     apidly  changed   into  the  stout,  tou-h    |)cridiuin. 


Th 


is  consists  of   an   inliicale   network   of   irregular   uelatinous 


tubules  enclosinj^  within  the  meshes  protoplasmic  masses  of 
pretty  uniform  si/e,  60  100  ^.  Outwardly  the  protoplasmic 
vesicles  predominate ;  inwardly  the  };elatinous  tubules,  which 
arc,  in  some  instances  at  least,  continued  toward  the  centre  of 
the  fructification  to  form  the  capillitium.  The  jjrotoplasmic 
masses  referred  to  resjjond  to  ordinary  stains,  arc  sometimes 
simply  j;ranular,  sometimes  with  one  or  more  nuclei,  sometimes 
broken  into  numberless  small  cells  corresponding;  in  si/c  and 
ai^jiearance  to  ordinary  spores.  The  tubular  network  or  matrix, 
in  which  the  protojjlasmic  masses  lie,  refuses  stain,  as  gentian 
violet  ;  the  walls  of  the  tubules  swell  under  acetic  acid,  and 
exhibit  a  lining  layer  markec.  as  the  capillitium  lilaments.  In 
fact,  the  latter  are  simply  branching  continuations  of  the  former 
less  the  gelatinous  outer  wall.  This  is  sub.stantially  the  view 
illustrated  by  Rostafinski,  Mon.,  Tab.  I.,  except  that  we  fail  to 
identify  the  inner  layer  of  the  peridium  as  distinct  in  substance 
from  the  gelatinous  outer  portion  of  the  ordinary  periilial  tubules. 
Mr.  Lister  regards  the  tubules  and  the  capillitium  lilaments  as 
simply  air-spaces  between  the  masses  of  spore-producing  j)roto- 
plasm.  This  seems  probable.  The  so-called  cajjillitium  here, 
as  everywhere  else  in  this  group,  consists  simply  of  the  residual, 
perhaps  excretory,  ectosarc  left  by  the  forming  masses  of  spore- 
plasm.  The  peridium,  in  the  first  place,  was  doubtless  simjjly  a 
result  of  more  rapid  desiccation,  and  the  masses  of  protoplasm 
filling  the  so-called  vesicles  are  simply  spore-plasm  in  varicnis 
phases  of  arrested  development. 

Not  common.     New  I'jigland,  Ohio,  Iowa.      Perhaps  more 
abundant  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

3.     LVCOGALA    COMCUM    PcVSOOH. 

1 80 1.     Lyc(\i^alii  conica  I'ers..  Syn.  Fuuff.,  p.  159. 

1875.     Dcnnodiuni  conicuin  (Pcrs.)  Rust.,  Man.,  p.  284. 

N 


I 


I 


'i' 


I 


178 


THE  NORTH  AM  ERIC  AN  SLIME-MOCLDS 


i'W 


^thalia  scattered,  sometimes  two  or  three  together,  small, 
2-4  mm.  high,  conical,  sessile,  pallid,  grayish  brown,  marked  by 
obscure  black  reticulations,  opening  regularly  at  the  somewhat 
acuminate  tip ;  peridium  thin  in  structure,  as  in  Z.  cpidciidrum, 
but  more  delicate;  capillitium  made  up  of  abundant,  slender, 
uniform  threads  almost  smooth,  simple,  the  free  ends  obtuse, 
taking  origin  in  the  cortex  much  as  in  the  preceding  species ; 
spores  in  mass  ochraccous,  by  transmitted  hght  colorless, 
minutely  warted  or  faintly  reticulate,  about  5  /*. 

A  very  distinct  and  rare  little  species.  Well  described  by 
Persoon,  who  also  appears  to  have  observed  the  Plasmodium 
*^ pritno  riibrar  The  color  of  the  mature  form  varies  with  age ; 
at  first  somewhat  purplish.  Dr.  Rex  collected  it  in  Pennsylva- 
nia ;  Mr.  Morgan  has  it  from  Ohio ;  our  specimens  are  from 
southeastern  Missouri. 

4.     LVCOGALA    EXIGUUM   Moi'g. 

1893.     Lycogala  exiguiim  'Movg., /our.  On.  Soc,  p.  8. 

yEthalia  small,  2-5  mm.  in  diameter,  gregarious,  globose, 
dark  brown  or  black,  sessile,  minutely  scaly,  irregularly  dehis- 
cent ;  the  peridium  thin,  the  vesicles  comparatively  few,  in 
irregular  patches  which  are  more  or  less  confluent ;  capillitium 
as  in  preceding  species,  the  tubules  slender  and  branching ; 
spore-mass  pale,  ochraceous,  spores  by  transmitted  light  color- 
less, almost  sniooth,  5-6  /*. 

Found  in  the  same  situations  as  No.  i,  and  at  the  same 
season.  Recognizable  by  its  gregarious  habit,  small  size,  and 
dusky  color.  The  little  spheres  occur  a  dozen  or  more  in  a 
place,  dark  lead-colored,  shading  to  black,  opening  rather  regu- 
larly at  the  top.  It  looks  like  a  depauperate  L.  cpidcndnun, 
but  seems  to  be  constantly  collected. 

Our  specimens  are  from  Ohio,  Iowa,  Missouri. 


U  ■ 


DIAiXEMA 


1/9 


Order  V. 


TRICHIACEiE. 

_  Fructification  sporangia!,  rarely  plasmodiocarpous.  tiie  sporan- 
gia  stalked  or  sessile,  gregarious  or  closely  crowded,  limeless 
throughout;  the  capillitium  of  definite  threads,  free  or  attached 
to  the  sporangia]  wall,  isolated  or  combined  into  a  net ;  spores 
generally  some  shade  of  yellow,  never  purple  or  black.  ' 

The  distinguishing  feature  in  this  order  is  found  in  the 
peculiar  sculpture  of  the  capillitial  threads.  This  is  suggested 
by  the  tubules  of  Lycogala,  though  probably  the  resemblance 
IS  superficial  only.  The  individual  threads,  as  in  Tricida,  are 
called  elaters,  irom  their  probable  efficiency  in  spore  dispersal. 

As  here  limited,  the  order  is  coextensive  with  the  Cahnnucce 
of  Ro.stafinski,  except  that  it  includes  in  addition  the  genera 
Prototrichia  and  Diancma.  The  course  of  differentiation  may 
be  assumed  to  start  with  Diancma,  through  the  Pcrichccnccc  to 
the  Arcyricc,  and  again  from  the  same  starting-point  throu-h 
PrototncJiia  to  the  Trichus.  ^ 


►i! 


Key  to  tb'i  Families  of  the  Trichiaceae. 

A.  Capillitial  threads  transverse  to  the  sporangial  cavity,  attached  usually 

at  each  end,  plain  or  only  slightly  roughened        .         .      Divni..m,.-e 

B.  CapilhtuuTi  plain,  papillose,  or  spinulose,  often  scantv,  not  netted   the 

threads  sometimes  attached  by  one  end  to  the  sporangium  wall, 

C.  Cap. llitium  a  distinct  net,  usually  attached  below  to  the  sporan-ial 
/)  r^  M,  '•  ^^"'l'^"''^*  '■''^'''O"-^'  "ot  of  continuous  spiral  bands.  Akcvkif  v 
V.   Capilhtial    threads    transverse,  fascicled,  attached   at    both    ends,   but 

«c.;'  Ptured  by  well-defined  spiral  banas        .         .  Pkototh  ichik  f 

E.    Capilht.al   threads    typically  free,  sometimes    more  or  less  branched 

forming  a  loose  net  attached  below,  cl.aracterized  by  definite  spiral* 

bands,  or  sometimes  by  scattered  rings        .         .  .       Tkichiee 


i8o 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN"  SLIME-MOULDS 


A  single  genus, 


A.    DIANEME^E. 


Dianema  Rex, 


i8g!.     Dianema  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  397. 

Sporangia  simple  or  plasmodiocarpous  ;  capillitium  composed 
of  threads  without  characteristic  thickenings  running  entirely 
across  the  sporangium  attached  both  to  the  base  and  to  the 
opposite  wall,  not  joined  to  form  a  network.  A  single  species 
in  our  limits,  — 

I.    Dianema  harveyi  Rcx. 

i8gi.     Dianema  harveyi  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  397. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  generally  rounded  or  cushion-shaped, 
depressed,  sessile,  iridescent  bronze,  i  mm.  in  diameter ;  peridium 
thin,  translucent,  opening  irregularly ;  capillitium  of  simple 
threads,  not  netted,  but  often  forked  two  or  three  times,  taut, 
running  from  base  to  the  top  of  the  sporangium,  ochraceous ; 
spores  in  mass  brownish  yellow,  by  transmitted  light  pale  yel- 
lowish, minutely  roughened,  8-10  /i. 

This  interesting  species  was  collected  in  Orono,  Maine,  in 
1889,  by  Professor  F.  L.  Harvey,  and  so  far  as  can  be  learned 
has  not  been  taken  since.  Mr.  Lister  records  two  species  from 
England  which  he  refers  to  this  genus.  As  to  its  systematic 
place,  Dr.  Rex  says.  I.e. :  *'  It  stands  as  a  single  representative 
of  a  new  and  separate  family  adjoining  the  PericJiccnaccie  in  the 
order  Calonemcce  of  Rostafinski." 

Rare.     Maine. 

B.   PERICHyENEyE. 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Perichseneae. 

A.   Sporangia  more  or  less  plasmodiocarpous  in  type,  terete;  dehiscence 


irregular 


I.     Ol'IIIOTIIF.CA 


B.  Sporangia  more  or  less  polygonal  in  outline,  or  round,  depressed  ;  dehis- 
cence circumscissile 2.   Pehich/KNA 


\   If' 


OPH/OTHECA 


iSl 


1.    Ophiotheca  Ch 


iirev. 


1854-     ophiotheca  Currey,  (2uar.Jonr.  A/n:  SV/.,  II.,  p.  240. 
iS75-     Conmvia  Rosi.,  J/,;«.,  p.  2S9  (in  part). 

Fructification  generally  pla.smodiocarpcus,  terete,  bent  or 
flexuous.  often  annular  or  cornuate,  rarely  globo.se,  openin- 
irregularly,  peridium  thin,  not  poli.shed,  covered  more  or  less 
strongly  with  a  distinct  layer  of  .scales  or  granules;  capillitium 
ot  slender,  loosely  branching  filaments,  the  surface  rou-h  or 
spmulose  ;  spores  yellow.  '"' 

As  a  generic  name  Ophiotheca  plainly  has  p-iority.  Coniuvia 
as  understood  by  Rostafinski  has  no  representative  so  far  in  our 
region ;  it  is  more  closely  related  to  Oligoncvta. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Ophiotheca. 

A.  Plasmodiocarp  usually  upon  herbaceous  stems,  slender, 

B.  Plasmodiocarp  on  rotting  bark,  logs,  etc.  '"  ^'  '"'""'"'^^"-'' 

a     Pale  brownish  or  yellowish       .         .         .         2.  O.  .hrysospcnna 
b.   Chestnut  brown  or  blackish      ....        3.  a  kv/-///// 

I.    Ophiotheca  vermicularis  {Schiv.)  Macln: 

1834.  Physarum  vcnniatlaris  Sclnv.,  N.  A.  F.,  No.  2296. 

1869.  ophiotheca  pallida  B.  and  C./w/r.  //,,.  Soc,  X..  p.  350 

1873.  ophiotheca  iiinhrina  \\.  and  C,  Gre7'.,  II.,  p.  X8. 

1876.  Perichceua  Pallida  (Schw.)  Rost.,  Mon.  App.,  p.  34. 

Plasmodiocarp  very  slender,  terete,  elongate,  flexuous  or 
reticulate,  annular,  etc.,  of  dull  gray  or  neutral  tint ;  the  perid- 
ium thin,  translucent,  but  with  a  delicate  granular  outer  coatin-- 
capilhtium  of  slender  threads,  frequently  branched,  warted  and 
usually  minutely  spinulose ;  spore-mass  ochraceous  vellow  • 
spores  by  transmitted  light  pale  yellow,   minutely  roughened' 

10  /Lt.  ' 

Perhaps  common,  but  seldom  coHecfv].  proba])ly  overlooked 
on  account  of  protective  coloration  ;  the  color  is  about  that  of 
the  habitat,  the  weathered  surface  of  dead  herbaceous  stems 
and  roots.     On  dead  corn  stalks  not  infrequent.     Differs  from 


I 


t 


■A 


^'  ;{ 


l82 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOL'LDS 


other  species  of  the  genus  in  having  smoother  capillitium,  for 
which  reason  Rostafinski  calls  the  present  species  Pcrichcena 
vcrmicnlaris.  O.  pallida  B.  and  C.  seems  to  us  to  be  the  same 
thing,  N.  A.  R,  726. 

New  England,  New  Jersey,  South  Carolina,  Ontario,  Ohio, 
Iowa. 


\i 


2.    Ophiotheca  chrysoperma  Cnrrcy. 

1833.     Trichia  circitinscissa  VVallr.,  Fl.  Cr.  Ger.,  p.  378. 

1854.     Ophiotheca  chrysospcrma  Currey.  Quart.  Mk.  Jour.,  II.,  p.  240 

1875.     Cormivia  circuniscissa  (VVallr.)  Rost.,  Moit.,  p.  290. 

Plasmodiocarp  elongate,  bent  and  curved  in  various  ways, 
spherical,  more  rarely  annular  or  even  reticulate,  yellowish  or 
ochraccous  brown,  opening  irregularly ;  peridium  thin,  with 
yellowish  c  'r  layer;  capillitium  rather  abundant,  of  threads 
slender,  sparingly  branched  and  minutely  but  distinctly  spinu- 
lose  ;  spore-mass  yellow,  spores  by  transmitted  light  pale,  almost 
smooth,  about  8  /*. 

Occurs  on  the  inner  bark  of  deciduous  trees,  especially  of 
oak.     Not  common. 

This  is  possibly  Cornuvia  circumscissa  (Wallr.)  of  Rosta- 
finski's  monograph,  but  it  is  doubtful  to  what  Wallroth  referred. 
Rostafinski's  other  citations  are  equally  uncertain.  Currey's 
figures  and  description  alone  merit  recognition. 

Ohio,  Iowa,  Tennessee. 


i"') 


3.    Ophiotheca  wrightii  Berk,  and  Curtis. 

Pi.ATi-,  XL,  Figs.  7,  7  rt,  7  b. 

1868.     Ophiotheca  lurii^htii  B.  and  C,Jour.  Linn.  Soc,  X.,  p.  349. 
1876.     Cornuvia  wri^^htii  (B.  and  C.)  Rost.,  Mon.  App.,  p.  36. 
1892.     Cornuvia  wrightii  (B.  and  C.)  Macbr.,  Bull.  Lab.  Nat.  Hist,  la., 
II.,  p.  122. 

Plasmodiocarp  bent  or  short-flexuous,  often  arcuate  or  com- 
pletely annular,  dark  chestnut  brown  or  black,  opening  irregu- 
larly ;  peridium  thin,  brittle,  translucent,  covered  without  by 
a  rather  dense  layer  of  brownish  or  black  brown  scales ;  capil- 


PERICH.KXA 


^^l 


litium  of  long,  sparingly  branched  threads  furnished  with  pro- 
jecting spinules  remarkable  for  their  length,  about  twice  the 
diameter  of  the  thread;  spores  yellow,  minutely  but  distinctly 
vvarted,  about  \2  /a. 

This  is  the  common  species  everywhere  on  the  inner  side  of 
the  bark  of  fallen  trees,  Ulmus,  etc.  It  is  readily  distin- 
guished at  sight  by  the  peculiar  annular,  looped,  and  U-shaped 
plasmodiocarps,  with  their  dark  umbrinc  or  blackened  surface. 
From  the  preceding  it  is  especially  distinguished  by  the  spin- 
ulose  capillitium  and  larger  spores. 

Not  rare.     New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio. 


I 


2.   Perichaena  Ftics. 

1 817.     Perichccna  Fries,  Symb.  Cast.,  p.  11. 

Sporangia  flattened,  sometimes  small  and  roundish,  more 
often  larger,  polygonal  by  mutual  interference,  or  irregular, 
the  peridium  thickened  outwardly  by  a  dense  reddisli  or 
brownish  layer  of  scales;  dehiscing  by  circumcission  or  by  a 
lid;  capillitium  often  scant,  of  slender,  warted,  yellowish 
threads,  attached  betimes  to  the  upper  wall ;  spores  yellow, 
oval  or  spherical. 


B. 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Perichaena 

Sporangia  plainly  flattened. 

a.  \'ery  flat,  sporangia  i  mm.  or  more  in  width 

b.  Depressed  ;  sporangia  smaller 
Sporangia  more  or  less  spherical. 

a.  Chestnut  brown 

b.  Gray  or  canescent 

^  *  •  •  •  • 


I.  P.  depressa 
2.  /'.  quadrat  a 

J.  /'.  corticalis 
4.  P.  //lar  filial  a 


I.  Perich/Ena  depressa  Libert. 

Plate  XVII.,  Fig.  10. 
1837.     PerichcEua  depressa  Lib.,  Fl.  Crypt.  Ard.,  IV.,  No.  378. 

Sporangia  sessile,  applanate,  crowded,  polygonal  by  mutual 
contact,  rufous  or  chestnut  brown,  shining,  opening  by  a  def- 
inite   lid;    spore-mass  and   capillitium   yellow,    the   capillitium 


A 


•\ 


4 


r 


184 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


m 


.  t  . 


well  developed,  of  slender  yellow  threads  of  various  widths, 
almost  smooth;  spores  minutely  warted,   ia-12 /x. 

Easily  recognized  by  the  peculiar,  polygonal,  depressed- 
flattened  sporangia  and  consec[uent  shallow  spore-cases  in 
which  lie  the  yellow  spores  and  scanty  capillitium.  Rostafinski 
refers  here  P.  vaponiria  Schw.,  No.  231 1,  but  the  meagre 
description  seems  rather  to  apply  to  the  next  species.  The 
original  material  is  no  longer  accessible 

In  the  crevices  and  on  the  inside  of  bark  of  fallen  logs  of 
various  sorts,  walnut,  maple,  etc. 

Not  commonly  collected.  Specimens  arc  before  us  from  New 
England,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Florida,  Mexico,  Nicaragua. 
Probably  over  the  whole  wooded  region  of  the  continent. 

2.    Pericii^ena  ouadrata  iMacbr.  n.  s. 

1893.  rcrichccna  irregularis  Berk,  and  Curt.,  Morgan,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc, 
p.  20. 

Sporangia  very  small,  less  than  \  mm.,  crowded,  polygonal  or 
quadrangular,  depressed,  bu;  not  flattened,  smooth,  bright  rufous 
or  brown  ;  the  peridium  rather  thick,  yellow  within,  the  dehis- 
cence circumscissile  ;  capillitium  scanty,  of  slender,  sparingly 
branched  filaments,  the  surface  minutely  roughened,  warted,  or 
spinulose ;  spore-mass  yellow,  spores  by  transmitted  light  pale 
yellow,  9-1 1  /A. 

Differs  from  the  preceding  by  the  much  smaller  size  of  the 
sporangia,  different  color  and  habit.  The  sporangia,  while 
depressed,  still  maintain  considerable  rotundity ;  they  are  occa- 
sionally quite  spherical,  and  then  of  very  uneven  size,  hardly  in 
contact.  In  some  cases  the  plasmodium  before  maturing  seems 
to  assume  the  form  of  a  plasmodiocarp,  which,  by  transverse 
fission  at  intervals,  forms  the  curious  four-sided  conceptacles. 
At  other  times  the  plasmodium  assumes  the  shape  of  a  flat 
cushion  or  plate,  which  then  subdivides  into  minute  polygonal 
segments.  This  form  has  been  known  some  years  to  collectors, 
and,  if  named  at  all,  has  been  called  P.  irregularis.  Lister,  I.e., 
assures  ul  that  Berkeley's  type  "is  typical  P.  depressa."    There 


?isi 


;i 


: 


PERICILENA 

would  seem  then  nothing  to  do  but  to  apply  to  the  form  bofoic 
us  a  new  specific  name. 

Not  common.     Ponn.sylvania,  Ohio.  Illinois,  Missouri. 
3.    Pekich.ena  corticalis  (Batsch)  Rost. 

PI.ATI-.    II.,     Fi^rs.     ,,     ,    ,,^     ,    f,^ 

1783-     Lycopcnion  coriicalc  IJ.UscIi,  FJcnch.  Fmii^..  p.  155 
18 17-     Po-nlunui popnliiui  Fries,  Symh.  Cast.,  p'.  i^ 
1875.     Pcric/uena  corticalis  (Batsch)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  293. 

_  Sporangia  sessile,  gregarious,  flattened,  hemispherical  •  pe- 
ridia  simple,  opening  by  a  lid ;  dehiscence  circumscissile  the 
upper  part  chestnut  brown,  the  lower  almost  black ;  capillitium 
feebly  developed,  smooth,  attached  to  the  lid  and  usually 
coming  away  with  it,  bringing  the  brilliantly  yellow  spore- 
mass,  and  leaving  a  delicate,  shining  cupule  adherent  to  the 
substratum;  spores  yellow,  nearly  smooth,  10-12 /*  On  and 
under  the  bark  of  dead  elms  of  various  species. 

A  very  handsome  little  species  occurring  rarely  with  us    or 
perhaps    overlooked    by   virtue    of    its    protective    coloration 
Found  sometimes  on   the  inner  side  of   the  bark   where    the 
latter  has  separated,  but  not  yet  wholly  parted  companv  with 
the  wood.     In  such  situations  the  tiny  sporangia  are  so  nearly 
quite  the  color  of  the  n.uist  substratum  as  to  escape  all  but  the 
closest  scrutiny.     The  dehiscence  is  very  remarkable,  character- 
istic, beautiful.     Black,  brown,  chestnut,  and  gold  are  harmo- 
niously blended,  in  the  opening  coffers.     Prior  to  maturity  the 
future  line  of  fission  is  plainly  indicated  by  the  difference  in 
color. 

This  is  clearly  the  .species  found  by  Batsch  "  ligni  demortui 
putridi  in    interiore  corticis   pagina."      Bulliard   has  also   well 
described  and  figured  the  species,  Sphcerocarpns  scssilis  t  417 
Fig.  V. 

The  capillitium  is  nearly  smooth ;  the  spores  are  only  slightly 
roughened  by  minute  warts. 

Apparently  not  common.    Iowa,  Missouri;  Black  Hills,  South 
Dakota. 


I 


.V. 


s 

1 

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1   1 

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i. 


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1 86 


r///-:  NORTH  AMERICAN  SIJME-MOULDS 


IL    / 


4.    Pericu.kna  makginata  ScJnvcinitz. 

1831.     Rcriclurna  /ittin^iiialii  Schw.,  N".  A.  f.,  No.  2310,  p.  258. 

Sporaiifjia  depressed,  globose,  polyf^onal  as  they  become 
approximate  or  crowded,  hoary  canescent,  sessile  ;  peridiiim 
rather  thick,  persistent,  circumscissile  in  dehiscence,  covered 
without  by  minute  whitish  calcareous  (?)  scales,  within  punctate 
by  the  imprint  of  the  spores ;  hypothallus  distinct,  white  ;  capil- 
litium  scant  or  none  !  Spores  in  mass  dull  yellow,  by  trans- 
mitted li};ht  pale,  nearly  smooth,  14-15  fi. 

Lister,  following  Rostafinski,  includes  this  form  with  the 
preceding.  The  differences  between  the  two  forms  are,  it 
seems  to  us,  sufificient  to  make  convenient  their  separation 
as  by  Schweinitz.  Apart  from  the  peculiar  incrustation  in 
the  present  species,  the  larger  spores,  and  especially  the  pecu- 
liar white  hypothallus,  arc  distinctive.  The  method  of  dehis- 
cence is  also  different.  In  P.  corticalis  the  line  of  cleavage 
before  spore  dispersal  is  indicated  by  a  definite  band  surround- 
ing the  sporangium.  Nothing  similar  appears  in  the  gray 
specimens  of  the  present  form,  although  the  dehiscence  is 
quite  as  certainly  circumscissile.  The  habitat  in  American 
specimens  is  the  outer  surface  of  the  bark,  which  causes  the 
species  generally,  by  protective  coloration,  to  be  overlooked. 

Not  common.     Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Missouri. 


C.   ARCYRIE/E. 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Arcyrieae. 

A.  Peridium  becoming  fragmentary,  but  persisting;  capillitiam  non-elastic, 

I.  Lacunobolus 

B.  Peridium  evanescent  above,  persistent  below  ;  capillitium  elastic, 

2.  Akcvria 

C.  Capillitium  elastic,  bearing  hamate  branches,  3.  Heterotkichia 


if  •  t 


I  -M 


1.   Lachnobolus  Fries. 

1829.     Lachnobolus  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  177. 


LACHXOnOLUS 


187 


Sporanp^ia  distinct,  sessile  or  nearly  so,  j^lobosc  or  cylindric, 
often  distorted,  scattered  or  densely  crowded,  the  peridiiim 
extremely  thin,  rujitured  irregularly,  and  persistent  in  Irag- 
ments;  cai)illitiuni  attached  at  numerous  points  to  the  spo- 
rangial  wall,  forming  a  dense  net,  the  threads  warted  or 
spinuiose,  non-elastic. 

Species  of  this  genus  are  easily  distinguished  from  those  of 
the  next  by  the  peculiar  fragile  peridium  and  the  inelastic 
capillitium. 

Key  to  the  Spec    3  of  Lachnobolus. 

A.    Sporangia  pale  yellow,  on  fallen  Howers  and  fruit-Iuirs  of  Castaiien, 

I .  L.  i^liiOosiis 
D.   Sporangia  rosy  or  copper-colored,  at  lengtli  ochraceous, 

2.    L.  Oil ith' II talis 
I.     LaCMXOUOLUS    GLOYiO?,\JS{Sc/llV.)  Rost. 

1822.     -Ifryria ghbosa  S>ch\w.,  Syit.  Fititi^.  Carol.,  Ko.  400. 
1875.     '^'"^''''""^'^///-s"  A''''"'^''-'''''-*"  (Sciiw.)  Rost.,  J/(W.,  p.  283. 
1894.     Anyn'a  albida  Pers.  (in  part)  Lister,  Mycctozoa,  p.  1S6. 

Sporangia  on  the  spines  of  fallen  chestnut  burs,  scattered, 
pale  yellow  or  whitish,  small,  globose,  the  peridium  early 
evanescent  above,  more  persistent  below,  stipitate ;  stipe  small, 
tapering  upward,  from  a  small  hypothallus ;  capillitium  a  dense 
but  not  expanding  network  attached  chiefly  to  the  lower  por- 
tion of  the  sporangia]  wall,  minutely  warted  or  roughened,  with 
few  expansions  or  inflations  ;  spores  in  mass  pale  yellow,  under 
the  lens  colorless,  almost  smooth,  ^-"^  fi. 

This  singular  little  species  is  remarkable  chiefly  in  the  hab- 
itat it  affects,  —  fallen  chestnut  burs.  On  these  almost  univer- 
sal, but  on  nothing  else,  except  that  now  and  then  a  variety, 
var.  minor  Ellis,  appears  on  the  fallen  catkins  of  the  same 
species.  Regarded  by  Mr.  Lister  as  A.  cincrca,  from  which  it 
differs  constantly  in  form,  in  capillitium  .nore  open  and  with 
larger  threads,  4-5  /u,  in  diameter  as  well  as  in  its  unique 
habitat,  and  yellowish  color. 

Distribution  coterminous  with  that  of  Castanca  saliva  Mill, 
var.  americana  —  eastern  half  of  the  United  States. 


K 


.'1 
^  I 


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l88 


yy/A"  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


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i 


h  W 


2.    Lachnobolus  occidentalis  Macbr. 

riJVTE  II.,   Fiys.  2,  2  rt,  2  /'. 

1885.  Lachnobolus  incarnatus  (Alb.  and  Schw.)  Machr.,  /?////.  Z,a^.  A'<//. 
///j/.  A^a;^:,  II.,  p.  126. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  crowded  upon  a  hypothallu.s  more  or 
les.s  distinct,  globose  or  ellipsoidal,  short-stipitate,  varying  j.ome- 
what  in  color,  at  first  rosy  or  flesh-colored,  later  brownish  or 
ochraceous ;  the  peridium  exceedingly  thin,  pellucid,  meally, 
evanescent  above,  persisting  as  a  shallow  cup  below ;  capil- 
litium  inelastic,  rather  closely  netted  of  threads  variable  in 
thickness,  marked  by  frequent  thickenings  or  expansions,  every- 
where warted,  attached  to  the  peridial  wall ;  spores  in  mass 
flesh-colored,  under  the  lens  colorless,  smooth,  globose,  7.5-9  ft. 

This  delicate  and  elegant  little  species  appears  to  be  not 
uncommon,  but  is  probably  generally  passed  over  as  an  Arcyria, 
which  it  superficially  resembles.  When  newly  formed,  the 
sporangia  have  a  peculiar  rosy  or  flesh-colored  metallic  tint, 
which  is  all  their  own.  Within  a  short  time  this  color  passes, 
and  most  of  the  material  comes  from  the  field  brownish  or 
ochraceous  in  color.  Typical  sporangia  are  spherical  on  dis- 
tinct short  stipes ;  when  crowded,  the  shape  is  of  course  less 
definite.  The  capillitium  never  expands  as  in  Arcyria,  but, 
exposed  by  the  vanishing  upper  wall,  remains  a  spherical  mass 
resting  upon  the  shallow  cup-like  base  of  the  peridium. 

This  species  has  been  in  the  United  States  generally  dis- 
tributed as  L.  incarnatus  (Alb.  and  Schw.)  Schroet.  A  careful 
study  of  all  the  descriptions  of  European  forms  and  comparison 
of  many  specimens  leads  us  to  believe  that  we  have  here  to  do 
with  a  type  presenting  constant  peculiarities.  We  have  in 
America  nothing  to  correspond  with  the  figures  of  Schweinitz, 
Berkeley,  or  Lister.  In  the  American  gatherings  the  sporangia 
are  uniformly  regular,  globose,  very  generally  short-stipitate, 
more  or  less  closely  gregarious,  never  superimposed,  or  heaped 
as  shown  in  Berkeley's  figure,  for  instance,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.,  IV.,  xvii.,  PI.  ix.,  Fig.  2.    The  plasmodium  of  our  species  is 


AKCVIUA 


1 89 


white  ;  as  it  approaciics  maturity  a  rosy  metallic  tinf;e  supervenes, 
c{ui(.kly  chan^^inj;  to  dull  yellow  or  alutaceous.  The  graphic 
description  given  by  Fries  of  Piviclucmx  iucaninta,  Sysf.  Myc, 
III.,  p.  193,  presents  scarcely  a  character  attributable  to  the  form 
before  us.  L.  couj^^csta  I^M^k.  and  lir.,  evidently  the  form  figured 
and  described  by  Li.ster,  Myccto::oay  p.  194,  PI.  l.\x.,  H.,  resembles 
our  species  in  color  and  capillitium,  but  is  entirely  different  in 
hi^bit. 

Not  common.     Maine,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Nebraska. 


V 


2.  Arcyria  (/////)  Pcrs. 

1751.     Arcyria  Sir  John  Hill.  Gc».  Nat.  Hist.,  II.,  p.  47. 
1801.     Arcyria  Persor      Syn.  Fttni:;.,  p.  1S2. 

Sporangia  ovoid  or  cylindric  or  even  globose,  stipitatc ;  the 
pcridium  thin,  evanescent  to  near  the  base,  the  lower  part  per- 
sisting as  a  calyculus ;  the  stipe  variable,  but  packed  with  free 
cell-like  vesicles,  resembling  spores,  but  larger ;  ca])illitium 
attached  below,  to  the  interior  of  the  stipe  or  to  the  calyculus, 
in  form  an  elastic  network,  the  tubules  adorned  with  warts, 
spini.les,  half-rings,  etc.,  but  without  spiral  bands  or  free 
extremities. 

Micheli,  of  course,  discovered  the  Arcyrias,  put  them  in  two 
genera  and  several  species,  which  we  may  ouly  dimly  recog- 
nize. Persoon  first  saw  distinctly  the  outlines  of  the  genus  as 
now  understood  and  adopted  the  name  given  by  Hill  in  his 
curiously  prolix  description  of  certain  species,  probably  partly 
of  the  genus  Arcyria,  partly  Stcmonitis. 


Key  to  the  Species  of  Arcyria. 

A.   Mature  capillitium  loosely  adhering  to  the  calyculus. 

a.  Mature  c.ipillitiuni  far-expanded,  drooping. 

i.   Dusky. 

*  Long,  12  mm.  or  more        .         .         .         \.  A.  viaffua 

**  Shorter,  about  6  mm.  ...       2.  A.  a'rstcdtii 

ii.    Yellow 3-  ^^-  nutans 

b.  Mature  capillitium  short,  not  drooping,  though  sometimes  pro- 

cumbent. 


■A.I 


m 

.,'1 


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190 


THE  NORTH  AMHRICAiY  SUML-MOULDS 


i.   C;ii)il1itiuMi  yellow 4.  ,/.  -.'itelUna 

U.    Cai)illitiiiin  reddish,  llcsli-colorcd,  at  lonj^th  sordid,  etc. 

*  L'apillitiiiin  marked  by  transverse  lialf-rinj^s,  co;;s,  etc. 

5.  .7.  incanititu 
**  Capilliliuin    marked   by  sharp-edj^ed   transverse   plates 
and  by  luimcroiis  nodes  .         .      6.  .1.  muiulosa 

***  Capillitinm  marked  ljy  close  reticulations, 

7.  A.  fernt^inca 
B,   Capillitinm  persistently  attached  to  the  calyculus. 

a.  Sporanj^ia  red<lisii  brown,  etc.   . 

b.  Sj)oran^ia  j^ray  or  ashen. 

1.    .Simple       ...... 

ii.    Clustered 

c.  Sporangia  yellow 


.    8.  A.  iteniidata 

9.  A.  iiucrca 

10.  A.  liii^itiUa 

II.  //.  poinijoriitis 


I.   Akcvkia  magna  Rcx. 

1893.     Arcyria  ma^na  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  364. 

Sporan^na  densely  aggregated,  forming  clusters  of  greater  or 
less  extent,  .sometimes  reaching  several  centimetres  in  either 
direction,  tawny  gray  or  ashen,  cylindric,  tapering  a  little  above, 
when  expanded  reaching  a  length  of  half  a  centimetre  or  more 
stipitate ;  peridium  evanescent  except  the  small  shallow  cup- 
like base,  the  calyculus;  stipe  long  (i  mm.),  weak,  pale  brown 
or  reddish,  tubular,  the  channel  filled  with  plasmodic  masses ; 
capillitinm  gray  or  drab-colored,  very  slightly  attached  to  the 
bottom  of  the  calyculus,  far  expanded,  forming  a  loose-meshed 
net,  the  threads  regular,  cylindric,  coarsely  sculptured  with  rings, 
half-rings,  cogs,  spines,  etc. ;  spores  in  mass  dull  gray,  drab, 
under  the  lens  colorless,  papillate,  with  few  papillae,  7-8  /a. 

This  magnificent  form  resembles  in  habit  and  general  appear- 
ance, save  color,  A.  nutans.  The  capillitinm  is,  however,  very 
different  both  in  the  sculpture  and  in  the  more  delicate  mark- 
ings of  the  threads.  Dr.  Rex,  I.e.,  has  pointed  out  the  lack  of 
reticulation  on  the  capillitinm  and  the  calyculus.  The  color  is 
also  diagnostic.  A  roseate  variety  seems  to  occur  with  the 
present  form.  This  is  A.  magna  rosea  Rex,  and  appears  to 
agree  with  the  type  in  all  respects  save  color.  The  relationship 
here   must  be   determined   by   future  inquiry.     The  capillitial 


//ATIVvV-/ 


r<)i 


cup- 
brown 
asses ; 
to  the 
eshed 
rings, 
drab, 

[ppcar- 
very 

mark- 
lack  of 
lolor  is 

th  the 

ars  to 
[onship 

)illitial 


threads   are    remarkaiblc    fur   their   {,Taceful  slenderness,  re-u 
iarity,  and  symmetry. 
Pennsylvania. 

2.  Akcvkia  (KKSTF.DTH  /\OXf. 

1875.     .Invriii  nrsti't/tii  Rost.,  .lA'//.,  p.  27S,  Fii;.  tQ^). 

Sporan,i;ia  cylindric,  arcuate,  1.5  mm.  hi;;h  when  unexpaiuled, 
closely  clustered,  dull  crimson,  sli|)ilale;  peridium  e\anescent, 
except  here  and  there  a  persistent  patch,  the  calyculus  shallow, 
l)licate,  papillose  within;  stipe  short,  weak,  concolorous ;  hypo- 
thallus  ilistinct,  membranous,  concolorous;  capiliitium  a  loose, 
far-e.vpanding,  elastic  net,  the  meshes  uneven,  often  small,  the 
threads  characterized  by  much  irregularity  and  many  bulbose 
thickenings,  esi)ecially  at  the  nodes,  strongly  si)inulose  through- 
out ;  sjiore-mass  crimson  or  reddish  brown,  dull ;  spores  by 
transmitted  light  colorless,  nearly  smooth,  sub-globose,  9-10  n. 

This  well-marked  species  is  certainly  rare  within  our  limits. 
We  have  specimens  from  New  ICngland  and  from  Pennsylvania. 
The  Iowa  material  referred  to  this  species,  />'////.  f.cjh.  Xat.  llist. 
la.,  II.,  p.  125,  is  A.  7fi(igna  Rex.  Rostafmski's  figure  is  excel- 
lent in  the  present  case,  and  gives  the  idea  of  what  we  regard 
the  typical  marking  of  the  capiliitium  in  /].  ivrstcdtii.  Ivxter- 
nally  the  f-pecies  resembles  somewhat  A.  uodnlosa,  and  the 
network  of  the  capiliitium  is  also  suggestive  of  that  form ;  the 
spiny  capiliitium  is  unique. 

Rare.     Adirondacks,  New  York  —  Dr.  Rex. 

3.  Arcvria  nutans  {Bull.)  Gnv. 

Plate  II.,  I'igs.  6,  6  a,  6  h. 

1791.     Trichia  nutans  BuUiard,  Champ.,  p.  122,  t.  502,  ni. 
1794.     Arcyria  flava  Pers.,  R'oincr  IV.   Mai^.  Hot.,  1.,  j).  90. 
1824.     Arcyria  nutans  (ircv.,  /-V.  Edin.,  p.  455. 

Sporangia  crowded,  cylindric,  about  2  mm.  high  when  unex- 
panded,  pale  yellow  or  buff,  short-stipitate  or  sessile  by  an  acute 
base ;  peridium  wholly  evanescent,  except  at  the  base,  where 
persists  the  shallow,  colorless,  often  inwardly  spinulose,  plicatu- 


I 


.r 

•) 


192 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAiY  SLIME- MOULDS 


t'.    ^t. 


i 


t; 


,  '. 


late  calyculus ;  stipe  very  short  or  wanting ;  hypothallus  thin 
but  usually  in  evidence ;  capillitium  expanding  to  great  length, 
forming  an  extremely  flexile,  plumose,  pendulous  open  network 
of  pale  ochraceous  tint,  the  threads  3-4  fi  in  thickness,  adorned 
with  spinules,  sharp-edged  transverse  plates,  sometimes  rings, 
the  surface  especially  marked  by  an  indistinct  reticulation; 
spore  mass  buff  or  ochraceous,  spores  by  transmitted  light  col- 
orless, smooth  or  nearly  so,  7-8  /*. 

This  elegant  species  is  not  rare  in  undisturbed  woods,  espe- 
cially on  fallen  willows.  The  expanded  capillitia  are  very  soft 
and  plume-like,  waving  and  nodding,  very  lightly  attached 
below  to  the  centre  of  the  peridial  cup.  The  capillitium 
threads  are  rough,  with  irregular  spines  and  sharp-edged  trans- 
verse plates,  occasionally  extending  to  form  rings.  Resembles 
the  first  species  somewhat  in  habit,  size,  and  the  spinesccnt 
capillitium,  but  the  resemblance  is  superficial  only.  The  color 
is  at  once  diagnostic,  and  the  capillitium  is  after  all  entirely 
different. 

Bulliard's  figure  determines  the  synonymy.  Persoon  called 
the  form  A.  flava,  because  Bulliard  had  missed  the  genus. 

4.    Arcvria  vitellina  Phillips. 

1877.     A>-cyria  vitellina  Phillips,  Grev.,  V.,  p.  115. 

Sporangia  gregarious  or  more  or  less  crowded,  pyriform  or 
clavate,  dingy,  olivaceous  yellow,  stipitate ;  peridium  mem- 
branous, largely  persistent  below,  where  it  gives  rise  to  the 
deep,  goblet-shaped  calyculus ;  stipe  strand-like,  weak,  some- 
times wanting,  c.^ncolorous  with  the  peiidium;  hypothallus 
prominent  or  venulosc ;  capillitium  only  c-lowly  expanded, 
bright  golden  yellow  or  orange,  the  threads  rather  broad,  about 
4  ft  in  diameter,  regular,  even,  elegantly  branching,  adorned 
with  abundant  short  spines  or  warts,  very  small  and  evenly  dis- 
tributed, the  whole  net  anchored  in  the  bottom  of  the  vasiform 
calyculus ;  spore-mass  yellow,  by  transmitted  light  pale  or 
nearly  colorless,  smooth,  about   10  ix. 


.  I  A' a -A'/ A 


193 


This  beautiful  species  is  easily  known  by  its  comparatively 
large  size,  peculiar,  obovate  shape,  its  brilliant  color,  and  unusu- 
ally  persistent  membranous  calyculus.  It  is  peculiar  to  the 
western  part  of  North  America,  South  Dakota  west  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  According  to  Lister.  J/j'cc^o,oa,  p.  185,  A.  vcrsi- 
color  Phillips  is  the  same  thing. 

South  Dakota,  Colorado,  Nevada,  California,  Washington. 

5-    Arcyria   inxarnata  Persoon. 

1786.     Clathrus  adnatiis  Batsch.  Elench.  Fiaii^.,  141.     (?) 
1791-     Arcyria  incaruata  Pers.,  Gmel.,  Syst.  Nat.,  II.,  p.  1467. 

Sporangia  closely  crowded,  cyhndric,  1-1.5  mm.  high,  rosy  or 
flesh-colored,  stipitate  or  almost  sessile ;  stipe  generally  short 
sometimes  barely  a  conical  point  beneath  the  calyculus ;  hypo- 
thallus  none;  peridium  wholly  evanescent,  except  the  shallow 
saucer-hke,  inwardly  roughened  calyculus;  capillitium  loose' 
broad,  pale  reddish,  attached  to  the  cup  at  the  centre  only  by 
strands  which  enter  the  hollow  stem,  the  threads  adorned  with 
transverse  plates,  cogs,  ridges,  etc.,  arranged  m  an  open  spiral  • 
spore-mass  rosy,  spores  by  transmitted  light  colorless,  nearly 
smooth,  y-S  /jl. 

This  common  species  is  well  marked  both  by  its  color  and 
by  the  delicate  attachment  of  the  capillitium  to  the  calyculus 
This  is  so  frail  that  the  slightest  breath  ofttimes  suffices  to 
effect  a  separation,  and  the  empty  calyculi  are  not  infrequently 
the  only  evidence  of  the  fructification.     This  peculiarity  did  not 
escape  the  attention  of  Persoon,  and  is  well  shown  in  his  f^-ure 
{Ods.  J/yc,  I.,  p.  58,  t.  v.,  Figs.  4  and  5)  referred  to  by  Gmclin, 
I.e.     Batsch  simply  named  and  described  Michcli's  figure  (Tab! 
XCIV.,  Fig.  2),  and    accordingly   his  claim  to  priority  is    no 
better  than  Micheli's  figure,  which  may  possibly  concern    the 
present  species,  but  is  in  no  sense  determinative.     It  is  impos- 
sible to  say  what  Retzius  meant  by  his  C/at/irus  mmosns,  cited 
by  Fries  as  a  synonym  here. 

Common,  especially   in   the    Mississippi  Valley  and   south' 
more  rare  westwardly ;  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 


M 


n\ 


T94 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN-  SLIME-MOULDS 


6.    Arcyria  incarxata  nodulosa  Macbridc  n.  var. 

I'l-ATK  III.,  Fiy  8. 

Sporangia  small,  about  i  mm.  high  when  unexpanded, 
crowded  in  clusters  of  varying  size,  dull  red  or  brownish,  stipi- 
tate ;  the  peridium  evanescent  except  the  cup ;  stipe  very  short, 
concolorous,  plicate  as  the  cup,  or  both  smooth  and  unmarked ; 
capillitium  centrally  attached,  slowly  expanded,  open-meshed, 
dense,  the  threads  even,  5-6  [i  wide,  expanded  frequently  in 
globose,  spinulosc,  or  papillate-reticulate  nodules,  especially  at 
points  of  intersection,  marked  everywhere  by  close-set,  trans- 
verse, sharp-edged  ridges,  which  encircle  the  thread  and  show 
no  trace  of  spiral  arrangement ;  spore-mass  brown  or  red  brown; 
spores  by  transmitted  light  pale  yellow  or  colorless,  minutely 
but  distinctly  roughened,  globose,  10-12  /a. 

This  variety  is  not  distantly  related  to  the  preceding,  as 
shown  by  the  centrally  attached  capillitial  mass,  but  differs  in 
several  definite  particulars ;  the  sporangia  are  much  smaller, 
of  an  entirely  different  color,  with  longer  stipes,  larger,  rougher 
spores ;  the  capillitium  is  also  peculiar,  the  threads  unusually 
wide  and  densely  corrugated  transversely,  expanding  at  frequent 
intervals  into  globose  nodules  which  are  sometimes  double  the 
width  of  the  thread.  In  color  this  suggests  A.  affinis  Rost.,  but 
corresponds  in  no  other  particular. 

Apparently  not  common.  P"or  our  material,  we  are  indebted 
to  Mr.  Hugo  Bilgram  of  Pennsylvania. 


1    :' 


7.   Arcyria  ferruginea  Santcr. 

1841.     Arcyria  fernti^iiica  Saut.,  Flora,  XXIV.,  p.  316. 

leSi.     Arcyria  macrospora  Peck,  Rep.  N.  Y.  Mas.,  XXXIV.,  p.  43. 

1888.     Arcyria  aurantiaca  Kaunkuur,  Myx.  Dan.,  p.  (44). 

Sporangia  ovoid  or  short  cylindric,  crowded  or  gregarious, 
dull  red  or  brownish,  stipitate ;  stipe  about  equal  to  the  sporan- 
gium, dark  brown  or  black ;  hypothallus  well  developed,  mem- 
branous, yellowish  brown,  continuous  ;  calyculus  large,  wide  and 
shallow,  smooth ;  capillitium  centrally  attached,  when  fresh, 
brick  red  in  color,  fading  on  exposure,  the  threads  of  uneven 


ARCYRIA 


195 


size,  those  above  6-7  ^,  below  3  ii,  abundantly  branching,  marked 
by  conspicuous  reticulations  formed  by  the  intersection  of  nu- 
merous vertical  plates  or  rid-es ;  spore-mass  reddish,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  pale  ochraceous,  distinctly  warted,  10-12  /z. 

This  species  is  distinguishable  at  sight  by  the  peculiar  color 
and  form  of  the  sporangia.  Mr.  Uurand  in  Bot.  Gar..,  XIX., 
pp.  89,  90,  gives  a  careful  study  of  the  form.  The  same' author 
declares  the  dehiscence  circumscissile.  We  cannot  distinguish 
A.  auraiitiaca  Raunk.  from  the  present  form. 

Rare.     Maine,  New  York. 


V 


8.    Arcvria  dexudata  {Linn:)  Sheldon. 

Pi.ATi-:  II.,  Figs.  5,  5  a. 

^753-     Cltithrus  denndatus  turn.,  Sysf.  A'at.,  -p.  1179. 

1794.     Arcyria pHuicca  Pers.,  Rom.  N.  Mag.  Dot..  I.,  p.  go. 

1895.     Arcyria  denudata  (Linn.)  She'd.,  Minn.  Bot.  Studies,  No.  9,  p.  470. 

Sporangia  crowded  or  gregarious,  ovoid  or  short  cylindrical, 
tapering  upward,  red-brown,  stipitate ;  peridium  evanescent 
except  the  plicate  calyculus ;  stipe  about  equal  to  the  expanded 
capillitium,  concolorous,  plicate  or  striate,  ascending  from  a 
small  hypothallus ;  capillitium  attached  to  the  whole  inner  sur- 
face of  the  calyculus,  and  connate  with  it;  hence  not  deciduous, 
bright  red  or  carmine  when  fresh,  turning  brown  or  paler  with 
age,  the  threads  even,  about  3  /a,  adorned  with  a  series  of  rather 
distant  cogs  or  half  rings,  which  form  around  the  thread  a 
lengthened  spiral ;  spore-mass  red  or  reddish  brown,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  colorless,  nearly  smooth,  6-8  /u. 

This  species  is  easily  distinguished  from  ail  others  of  similar 
tints  by  the  attachment  of  the  capillitium.  In  this  respect  it 
corresponds  with  the  following  species.  In  the  adornment  of 
the  threads  it  is  like  A.  incarnata.  It  is  by  far  the  commonest 
species  of  the  genus,  and  probably  enjoys  a  world-wide  distri- 
bution. To  be  found  at  all  seasons  on  the  lower  side  of  fallen 
sticks,  Populiis,  Tilia,  etc. 

MicheH,  PI.  XCIV.,  shows  that  he  had  the  present  species. 
The  description  given  by  Linne  is  worthless,  but  helped  out  by 


in 

I 


if 


Si, 

'■ri 


igG 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAiV  SLIME-MOULDS 


Micheli,  and  by  several  other  authors  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
who  take  the  trouble  to  describe  and  figure  the  species,  but 
still  give  the  Linnean  binomial  as  a  synonym  ;  we  may  give 
Linne  here  the  credit.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Batsch  under 
Embolus  crocatits  first  presents  an  unmistakable  description  and 
figure. 

Maine  to  the  Black  Hills  and  Colorado,  and  north  and  west ; 
Alaska  to  Nicaragua. 


I':-:  i^ 


: 


I  >■ 


m 


I  ' 


9.    Arcyria  cixerea  {Bull.)  Pcrs. 

Vu\\v.  II.,  Figs.  3,  3  a. 

1 791.     TricJiia  cinerea  Bull.,  Champ,  dc  France.^  p.  120,  Tab.  477,  Fig.  iii. 
1801.     Arcyria  cinerea  (Bull.)  Pers.,  Syn.  Fuiii:;.,  p.  184. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  ovoid  or  cylindrical,  gen- 
erally tapering  upward,  about  2-3  mm.  high,  ashen  gray, 
sometimes  with  a  yellowish  tinge,  stipitate ;  calyculus  very 
small,  thin ;  stipe  about  half  the  total  height,  rising  from  a 
small  hypothallus,  thin,  gray  or  blackish,  densely  crowded  with 
spore-like  cells ;  capillitium  dense,  freely  branching,  ashen,  or 
yellowish,  little  expanded  in  dehiscence,  the  threads  almost 
even,  though  a  little  wider  below,  minutely  spinulose ;  spore- 
mass  concolorous,  spores  by  trans  iiitted  hght  colorless,  smooth, 

A  very  common  little  species,  easily  recognized  by  its  color 
and  habit.  The  capillitium  is  more  dense  than  in  any  other 
species  and  expands  less.  The  stipe  is  about  equal  to  the 
expanded  capillitium,  unusually  long.  The  plasmodium  occurs 
in  rotten  wood,  especially  species  of  Tilia,  is  gray  and,  judging 
from  the  number  of  sporangia  found  in  one  place,  scanty. 

Bulliard,  I.e.,  gives  the  first  account  of  the  species  by  which 
it  can  with  any  certainty  be  identified.  By  some  authors 
ClatJirns  rccutiins  Linn,  is  cited  as  a  synonym.  We  fail  to  dis- 
tinguish A.  cookci  Mass.  from  the  old  type. 

Widely  distributed ;  Maine  to  Alaska,  and  south  to  Mexico 
and  Nicarajiua. 


ARCVRIA 


197 


10.  Arcyria  digitata  {SchiiK)  Rost. 

1831.  Stci/iouifis  diii^itata  Schw..  X.  A.  /•"..  p.  260,  No.  2350. 
1S6S.  Arcyria  bkolor  V>.  and  C.Jonr.  Linn.  Soc,  X..  p.  349. 
1875.     Arcyria  lii^i^iiata  {^c\\\\.)  Koiii.,  Mon.,  \^.  2j^. 

Sporangia  compound,  that  is,  gather  in  tufts  a  number  3-12 
or  more  on  a  single  sipe,  the  clusters  themselves  scattered ; 
individual  sporangia  elongate  cylindric,  about  3-4  mm.  long, 
ashen  gray  or  nearly  white,  stipitate ;  stipe  as  long  or  longer 
than  the  sporangium,  stout,  sometimes  showing  traces  of  con- 
solidation of  several,  sometimes  none,  dark  brown  or  black ; 
capillitium  looser  rmd  more  expinded  than  in  the  hist,  the 
threads  more  strongly  spinulose  ;  spore-mass  concolorous, 
spores  under  the  lens  colorless,  smooth,  globose,  7.5-8  fx. 

Closely  related  to  the  preceding,  but  different  in  habit  and 
on  the  whole  larger  and  more  robust  throughout.  The  stipes 
in  some  cases  are  completely  merged  in  one ;  in  others  traces 
of  coalescence  remain.  The  number  of  united  sporangia  varies. 
There  are  some  clusters  before  us  containing  16  and  18  in  a 
single  fascicle ! 

Not  very  common.  On  rotten  wood  of  deciduous  trees, 
especially  south. 

New  England,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa ;  Black  Hills,  South 
Dakota,  and  south. 

Arcyria  bicolo'.  B.  and  C.  seems  to  refer  to  the  fact  that  the 
sporangia  have  sometimes  an  ochraceous  tint.  Berkeley's  speci- 
mens are  from  Cuba.  Our  largest  specimens  are  from  Nica- 
ragua ;  the  form  seems  not  to  be  reported  from  the  old  world. 

11.  Arcvria  pomiformis  (Zrrn-)  A\?j-A 

1775.     Afiicor  poiiiiforinis  Leers..  Flor.  Herb.,  p.  218. 
1875.     Arcyria  poniif or  mis  Rost.,  Man.,  p.  271. 

Sporangia  scattered,  gregarious,  globose,  bright  yellow,  very 
minute,  \  mm.  high,  1  mm.  in  diameter,  stipitate  ;  stipe  very 
short,  \  the  total  height,  pale  brown  or  yellow ;  hypothallus 
none;  capillitium  loose,  freely  expanding,  not  deciduous,  honcv 
yellow,  the  threads  generally  wide,  4-5  fx,  toward  the  pcriph-rv 


3 


■Hi    !■   ■ 


'It! 


198 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


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more  narrow,  2\  \x,  wartcd,  marked  with  blunt  spiniilcs,  which 
not  infrequently  pass  into  distinct  transverse,  narrow  plates  or 
half-riU'^s,  free  ends  clavate  and  numerous  ;  si)ore-mass  yellow, 
spores  by  transmitted  lii^ht  smooth,  granular,  globose,  7-9  \i. 

This  species  as  represented  by  the  material  before  us  seems 
constant  in  size,  color,  and  microscopic  characters,  in  all  which 
it  differs  from  all  species  here  listed.  It  resembles  somewhat 
Laclinobolns  globosus  Schw.,  but  differs  in  habit,  habitat,  color, 
the  capillitium,  its  attachment,  and  in  the  mode  of  dehiscence. 
In  the  present  species  the  wall  is  evanescent  almost  ///  toto ;  in 
L.  globosus  it  is  remarkably  persistent,  and  the  capillitium  is 
adherent.  Mr.  Lister  has  seen  fit  to  combine  the  last  three 
species  of  this  list  with  L.  globosus  under  one  name,  A.  albida. 
Inasmuch  as  the  introduction  of  three  varieties  is  apparently 
necessary  to  carry  out  the  scheme,  its  advantage  to  the  student 
is  not  conspicuous. 

Probably  rare.  Its  smallness  removes  it  from  sight  of  all 
but  the  most  exact  collectors.  Maine,  New  York,  South  Caro- 
lina, Alabama,  Missouri,  Iowa;  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

3.  Heterotrichia  Alass. 

1892.     Heterotrichia  iMassee,  Mon.  Myxogastres,  p.  139. 

Sporangia  distinct,  stipitate ;  the  pcridium  simple  evanescent 
above  as  in  Any  via ;  capillitium  centrally  attached,  freely 
branched,  the  threads  within  very  slender,  without  broad,  anas- 
tomosing to  form  a  dense  peripheral  network,  and  every- 
where extended  to  form  short,  free,  often  hamate  tips.  A 
single  species, — 

I.   Heterotrichia  gabriell.-e  (Rav.)  Jlfass. 

ri.ATK  XIII.,  Fig.   I,  I  a. 

1S50.     Arcyria  ffabriellcc  Rav.  in  litt.  ad  Cooke. 
1S92.     Hcterotricliia gabriclke  Mass.,  Moii.,  p.  140. 

Sporangia  crowded  or  gregarious,  oblong  cylindric  or  ovoid, 
at  first  red,  becoming  yellowish  brown,  stipitate ;  the  pcridium 


PROTOTRICHIA 


199 


evanescent  except  the  calyculus,  which  is  small  and  thin,  pol- 
ished;  stipe  shorter  than  the  expanded  capillitium,  pale  reddish 
brown  ;  capillitium  centrally  attached,  showin<,^  threads  of  two 
sorts,  those  within  freely  branching,  slender,  i-\\  ix,  marked 
with  half-rings  or  ridges,  those  on  the  periphery  ve"ry  different, 
yellow,  broad,  5-6  ^,  forming  rather  dense  reticulations,  with 
abundant  free  tips,  acute  and  often  curved,  the  whole  surface 
here  minutely  and  densely  warted ;  spore-mass  reddish  yellow, 
spores  by  transmitted  light  colorless,  globose,  7-S  /ti. 

The  peculiar  double  capillitium  seems  to  separate  this  form 
from  the  true  Arcyrias.  Some  difference  in  the  diameter  of  the 
capillitial  threads  in  different  regions  is  not  infrequent  in  the 
several  species  of  Arcyria,  but  that  difference  is  here  empha- 
sized and  rendered  yet  more  striking  by  the  peculiar  free  tips. 
The  present  forms  bear  only  the  most  superficial  resemblance 
to  A.feyritginca  Saut.,  with  which  species  it  is  in  some  quarters 
sought  to  unite  it. 

Very  rare.  Collected,  as  noted,  nearly  fifty  years  ago  in 
South  Carolina  by  Ravenel,  it  has  recently  (1896)  been  again 
collected  in  Maine  by  Professor  Harvey,  to  whom  we  are  espe- 
cially indebted  for  a  glimpse  of  this  most  curious  species. 


:m  > 


i* 


D.     PROTOTRICHIE^E. 
A  single  genus,  — 

Prototrichia  J^ost. 

1876.     Prototrichia  Rost.,  Mon.  App.,  p.  38. 
A  single  species,  — 

I.  Prototrichia  flagellifera  (Berk,  and  Br. ~)  Rost. 

1S66.     Trichia  flcigellifer  Berk,  and  Cr.,  Ann.  Ma^r,  Xat.  Hist ,  -i  XVIII 
p.  56.  ^'  ' 

Sporangia  sessile,  scattered  or  sometimes  crowded,  brown, 
sometimes  with  a  rosy  tinge,  about  i  mm.  in  diameter;  peridium' 
a  thin,  transparent,  iridescent  membrane,  bearing  in  its  inner 


200 


rilE  NOR'ni  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


!     \ 


surface  the  distal  attachments  of  the  capillitial  threads  ;  capil- 
litium  of  numerous  brown,  spirally  banded  threads,  which  take 
origin  in  the  base  of  the  sporangium,  become  subdivided  as 
they  ascend,  and  are  at  length  attached  by  their  tips  to  the 
sporangium  wall ;  spore-mass  brown,  spores  by  transmitted  light 
pale,  minutely  roughened. 

This  curious  form,  with  its  spirally  sculptured  capillitial 
threads  attached  at  both  ends,  stands  intermediate  between 
Diaticma  and  HcmitricJiia  and  Trichia.  It  is  probably  the 
same  thing  as  that  in  i860  called  by  l^erkeley  Trichia  mctallica, 
but  as  this  fact  can  no  longer  be  substantiated,  we  have  adopted 
here  the  later  name. 

Not  uncommon  in  the  abietine  forests  of  the  West.  Alberta, 
Oregon,  Washington,  California,  Nevada,  Montana,  Idaho, 
Colorado. 

E.   TRICHIE/E. 

Capillitium  marked  by  spiral  bands,  sometimes  scattered 
rings,  etc.,  the  threads  either  entirely  free,  or  at  least  loosely 
branched,  and  with  free  tips  more  or  less  numerous. 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  the  Trichiese. 

A.  Capillitial  threads  long,  generally  united  to  form  a  loose  net,  centrally 

attached. 

a.  Sculpture  spiral i.  Hemitrichia 

b.  Sculpture  reticulate  ......        2.  Calonema 

B.  Capillitial  threads  shorter,  entirely  free,  though  sometimes  branched. 

a.  Threads,  elaters,  marked  by  spiral  bands  .  3.  Trichia 

b.  Sculpture  irregular  or  wanting  .         .         .         •4-  Oligoxe.ma 


.  I  I 


\  ' 


1.   Hemitrichia  Rost. 

1829.     He/fiiarcyn'a  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  183  (in  part). 
1873.     He»iiirichia  Rost.,  Versiich,  p.  14. 

Capillitium  a  tangled  net  of  more  or  less  branching  and  anas- 
tomosing fibres  centrally  attached ;  the  sculpture  regular,  of 
conspicuous  spirally  winding  bands  or  ridges ;  habit  and  color 
various. 


hemitrichia 


201 


The  species  here  associated  are  intermediate  between  Arcvria 
and  Trichia,  resemblin^^  the  former  in  the  capillitial  net  and 
the  latter  in  thread  sculpture.  Fries  applied  the  name  here 
adopted  to  a  grouj)  of  Trichias  so-called,  citin-  //  nibiformis  as 
the  first.  In  his  Vcrsnch  Rostafinski  wrote  Ilcmitncltia  and 
afterward  Ilcmiarcyria  in  the  Mono^^n-ap/i,  Massee  combines 
the  genera  Arcyria  and  Hcmiarcyna  under  the  former  name. 

Key  to  species  of  Hemitrichia. 

A,  Plasmodiocnrpous. 

a.    Plasmodiocarp  net-like,  yellow 

h.    Imperfectly  plasmodiocaipous  .... 

B,  Spoiani,Ma  all  distinct. 

a.  Sessile  ;  .some  very  short-stalked. 

i.  lY'ridiuni  hyaline,  iridescent       ...  3.   //  ^-,,,/,; 

ii.Peridium  opaque 10.  H.  montana 

b.  btipitate,  generally  distinctly  so  ;  sometimes  nearly  sessile. 

i.    Yellow  or  ochraceous. 

*  Stalk  hollow. 

t  Small,  >  mm.,  iridescent  .         .         .6.    //.  Idocarpa 
ft  Larger,  i  mm.,  smooth  but  not  iridescent. 

1.  Free  ends  more  or  less  abundant,    8.    H.  chvata 

2.  Free  ends  none        ...      9.  H.  stihitata 

..     ^/*  Stalk  solid 7.    ,,_;,,^^,^^ 

a.   Not  yellow. 

*  ^^"'^y  '^''^  ....  4.    //.  vcsparium 
**  Copper-colored         ....        5.    H.  stipata 


I.   //.  serpula 
.    11.  kiifslenii 


m 


I.    Hemitrichia  SY.RF\jhA  (Scop.)  Rost. 

ri.ATE   III.,   Figs.  4,  4  «,  4  d. 

177'^-    Mitcor  serpula  Scop..  Fl.  Cam,  II..  p.  493. 

1794-     Trkhia  serpula  (Scop.)  Pers..  Rom.  .Y.  Hot.  Mac^.,  I.,  p.  90. 

1875.     Hcmiarcyna  serpula  (Scop.)  Rost.,  Man.,  p.  266!" 

Fructification  plasmodiocarpous,  often  covering  several  square 
centimetres  in  extent,  terete,  branching  freely  and  usually  every- 
where recticulate,  rusty,  tawny,  or  bright  yellow;  the  pcridium 
thin,  transparent,  with  irregular  dehiscence ;  hypothallus  none ; 
capillitium  variable,  a  tangle  of  long  yellow  threads,  sparingly 
branched,    free   everywhere,   spinulose,    the   free  tips  spino'^se, 


*|    ^1 


m  '  II 


%\  i. 


j|i  .I'M 


202 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SIJME-.UOC'LDS 


:f 


A 


M 


acuminate,  spiral  ridg...>  three  or  four,  with  traces  of  longitudinal 
stride ;  spore-mass  golden  yellow,  spores  beneath  the  lens  pale 
yellow,  globose,  delicately  reticulate,  about  lo  ^l. 

Very  common.  I^^asily  recognized  by  its  bright  yellow  color 
and  conspicuous  reticulate  habit.  The  Plasmodium  is  yellow, 
at  least  upon  emergence,  and  passes  almost  without  change  to 
fruit.  Found  on  rotten  logs  of  every  description,  on  the  loivcr 
surface.  In  the  Mississip[)i  Valley  the  lower  surface  of  planks 
used  in  the  construction  of  sidewalks  appears  to  be  a  favorite 
habitat. 

Common  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  south  to  Mexico  and 
Nicaragua. 

2.  Hemitriciiia  karstenit  {Rosf.)  Lister. 

1876.     He  III  ia  rev  rill  karsti'iiii  Rost.,  Moii.  App..  p.  41. 
1891.     llciniarcyria  ohscura  Rex,  I'loc.  J '/til.  Acaii.,  p.  395. 
1894.     Hcinitiichia  karstcnii  Lister,  Mycctozoa,  p.  178. 

Fructification  plasmodiocarpous,  with  a  tendency  to  form 
distinct  sessile,  globose  sporangia,  brownish  red  in  color ;  capil- 
litium  a  sparingly  branched  loose  network,  with  free  ends  few, 
the  thread  marked  by  seven  or  eight  faint  spirals,  the  interspaces 
narrow,  dull  red  in  color,  and  2.5  ft  in  diameter;  spores  yellow, 
delicately  warted,  10- 10. 5  /x. 

We  have  not  seen  this  species,  and  in  the  description  have 
followed  Dr.  Rex,  I.e.,  as  being  more  to  the  point  for  American 
forms.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  American  material  may 
after  all  be  distinct,  as  discrepancies,  if  one  may  judge  by- 
descriptions,  arc  not  few.  Lister,  who  had  a  slide  from  Dr. 
Rex,  considers  the  European  and  American  forms  the  same. 

Montana  —  Atuicrsoii.     To  be  looked  for  north  and  west. 

3.  Hemitriciiia  ovata  {Pcrs.)  JSIacbr. 

1796.     Trichia  ovata  Pers.,  Obs.  Myc,  I.,  p.  61,  and  II.,  p.  35. 

1863.     Trichia  abidiiia  Wi^and.  Priii_i:;sh.  Jahr..  III.,  p.  33,  Tab.  ii.,  Fig.  II. 

1875.     Hciiiiarcyria  icui^aiutii  Rost.,  Moii..  p.  267. 

Sporangia  crowded  or  sometimes  closely  gregarious,  sub- 
globose  or  turbinate,  shining  yellow,  sessile,  the  peridium  thin, 


lU; 


HEMITRICIIIA 


203 


iridescent;  cnpillitium  a  tanj:^lc  of  sj)arinj;ly  branched  yellow  or 
ochraceous  yellow  threads,  rather  slender,  3  5  /u,  marked  by  one 
or  two  prominent  spiral  bands  forming;  a  loose  somewhat  ir- 
regular spiral,  the  free  ends  not  infre([uent,  inflated  and  rounded; 
spore-mass  yellow  or  yellow  ochr-ceous,  spores  by  transmitted 
light  pale  yellow,  distinctly  and  sharjjly  spinulose,  but  not 
netted,   10  11  /u. 

A  rare  and  beautiful  species,  distinguished  well  by  the  small 
size,  about  .5  mm.,  by  the  thin  iridescent  peridium,  as  by  the 
microscopic  character  exhibited  by  the  capillilial  threads. 

There  seems  no  doubt  that  this  is  Persoon's  Tvicliia  ovata. 
His  description  is  accurate  in  all  that  pertains  to  external 
features,  and  Rostafinski,  App.,  p.  41,  explicitly  says  that  he 
saw  in  Persoon's  herbarium  specimens  of  the  species  bearing 
the  name  cited.  Just  why  Rostafinski  did  not  here  adopt  the 
older  name  is  not  clear,  nor  is  there  excuse  for  abandoning 
Wigand's  name  were  Persoon's  invalid.  According  to  Lister, 
TricJiia  )iana  Mass.,  from  Maine,  is  the  same  thing.  Persoon, 
I.e.,  gives  a  synonymy  which,  in  the  nature  of  case,  is  un- 
verifiable,  the  specific  characters  being  microscopic. 

Rare.     Maine,  Massachusetts,  New  York,  Ohio. 


i>7 


3 


'  I', 


i' 


Fig.  II. 

,    sub- 
thin, 


4.    Hemitriciiia  vesparium  {BatscJi)  Macbr. 

1786.    Lycopcrdon  Tcspariniii  Batscli,  Kloich.  Fiina;.,  pj).  255.  256.  Fig.  172. 
1794.     Trichia  nibiformis  Pers.,  Rom.  IV.  Hot.  Mai^-,  I.,  p.  fS8. 
1875.     Heniiarcyria  rubiforinis  (Pcrs.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  262. 

Sporangia  clustered  or  crowded,  rarely  single,  clavate  or  sub- 
cylindric,  stipitate  or  sessile,  dark  wine  red  or  red  black  in  color, 
the  peridium  in  perfect  specimens  glossy  or  shining  metallic, 
opaque;  stipes  solid,  usually  blent  together,  concolorous ;  capil- 
litium  of  intertwisted  slender  threads,  sparingly  branched, 
marked  by  three  or  four  spiral  ridges,  abundantly  sjjinulose, 
the  free  tips  also  acuminate,  terminating  in  a  spine,  the  wliule 
mass  dull  red.  Spore-mass  brownish  red,  spores  by  transmitted 
light  reddish  orange,  very  distinctly  warted,  sub-globose,  10- 
12  ii. 


t 
f. 

r 


■    - 


Ji 


204 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAX  SUM E-MOUI.DS 


M  ■■ 


ii:l 


'I   ^!, 


\.^ 


A  most  common  species,  on  rotten  wood  eveiywherc,  espe- 
cially in  forests.  Recognized  generally  at  sight  by  its  color  and 
fasciculate  habit.  The  peridium  shows  a  tendency,  often,  to 
circumscissile  dehi.scfnce,  and  persists  long  after  the  contents 
have  been  dissipated,  in  this  condition  suggesting  the  name 
applied  by  Hatsch,  vcspanuui,  wasjvnest.  The  capillitium  is 
remarkably  spinescent,  the  branching  of  the  threads  rare. 
Rostafinski  describes  the  spores  as  smooth;  they  seem  to  be 
uniformly  distinctly  warted.  The  plasmodium  is  deep  red,  and 
a  jilasmodiocarpous  fructification  occasionally  ap|)ears. 

Throughout  the  whole  range.  New  England  to  Washington 
and  Oregon,  south  to  Nicaragua. 

5.    Mkmitkichia  stii'ata  {ScJnv^  Mixcbr. 

Plate  I.,  1mj,'s.  8,  8  r/,  8^. 

1834.     Lc(ini:;iin>t  stipatuiii  Schw.,  N".  A.  F.,  p.  258,  No.  2304. 
1876.     Heiniarcyyia  stipata  (.Sclnv.)  Rost.,  Mon.  .Ipp.,  i)p.  41,  42. 
1894.     Arcyria  stipata  (Schw.)  Lister,  Mon.  Mycctozoa,  p.  189. 

Sporangia  distinct,  crowded,  cylindric  or  irregular,  overlying 
one  another,  rich  copper-colored,  metallic,  shining,  becoming 
brown,  stipitate ;  peridium  thin,  the  upper  portion  early  evanes- 
cent, the  base  persistent  as  a  cup,  as  in  Arcyria;  capillitium 
concolorous,  the  thread  abundantly  branched  to  form  a  loose 
net,  with  many  free  and  bulbous  ends,  pale  under  the  lens, 
marked  by  three  or  four  somewhat  obscure  spiral  bands  and  a 
few  wart-like  or  plate-like  thickenings;  stipe  very  short;  spore- 
mass  reddish,  spores  by  transmitted  light  pale,  nearly  or 
quite  smooth,  6-8  ^x. 

This  species  is  known  at  sight  by  its  peculiarly  beautiful  tint, 
when  fresh,  as  by  the  crowded  prolix  habit  of  the  singular  over- 
lying sporangia.  The  netted  capillitium  and  the  evanescent 
peridium  suggest  Arcyria,  but  there  are  abundant  free  tips,  and 
the  threads  are  unmistakably  spirally  wound,  especially  in  the 
large,  handsome  sporangia  characteristic  of  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley. It  is  a  boundary  form  unquestionably.  The  stipe  is  gen- 
erally very  short,  about  one-tenth  the  total  height ;  sometimes, 


1 1:  < 


HEMlTRlLlll.  / 


205 


llitium 

loose 

lens, 

and  a 

sporc- 

ly    or 


when  the  peridium  is  more  globose,  the  stipe  is  proportionately 
longer.  Specimens  from  Iowa  show  fructifications  several 
centimetres  long  and  wide. 

Not  rare.     New  England  to  the  IMack  Hills  and  south. 

6.  Hkmitkiciua  LF.iocAKi'A  ( T/v. )  Macbv. 

\'^TJ.     Ueniiarcyria  Iciocarpa  Cke.,  Ann.  Lye.  Xiit.  /fist.  A'.  J '.,  .\  I .,  p.  405. 
1891.     Ilciniarcyria  Tafneyi  Kcx,  I'roc.  /'/til.  Anui.,  [).  y/\ 

Sporangia  simple,  obovate  or  pyriform,  rarely  almost  globose, 
pallid,  with  a  stem  of  the  same  color,  as  long  as  the  diameter 
of  the  sporangium  ;  spore-mass  and  capillitium  concolorous,  or 
with  slight  ochraceous  tint ;  capillitium  forming  a  loose  net,  the 
tubes  branching  in  a  reticulate  manner  ;  spirals  three,  thin, 
prominent,  along  the  convex  sides  of  the  tubes  mixed  with  a 
few  obtuse  spines;  spores  globose,  with  a  thin  membrane,  12.5- 
14  ti. 

Such  is  the  original  description  of  this  distinctly  American 
species.  //.  varmyi  Rex  should  differ  in  having  spirals  seven 
or  eight,  and  spores  only  6.25  ^JL.  Mr.  Lister,  who  has  com- 
pared types  of  both  species,  declares  them  the  same !  The 
present  writer  has  been  unable  to  secure  authentic  specimens. 

7.  Hemitrichia  ixtorta  Lister. 

1891.     Heiiiiarcyria  intorta  Lister,  Jour,  /^ot.,  p.  268. 
iSgt.     Heniiiuxyria  lom^ijila  Re.x,  /'roc.  /'/lil.  Aiin/.,  p.  396. 
1S94.     Hemitrichia  intorta  List.,  Mycctozoa,  p.  176. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  globose-turbinatc  or  pyriform,  golden 
yellow,  stipitatc ;  peridium  thin,  translucent,  shining,  opening 
at  the  summit  irregularly,  leaving  a  funnel-shaped  receptacle 
below;  stipe  dark  red  brown,  solid,  rugulose ;  capillitium  of 
threads  sparingly  branched,  but  looped  and  doubled  upon  them- 
selves and  constantly  intertwisted,  orange  yellow,  3  4  /ii  in 
diameter,  with  spirals  four,  sparingly  spinulose,  even  and  regu- 
lar, the  longitudinal  striae  conspicuous ;  spores  in  mass  con- 
colorous, under  the  lens  yellow,  delicately  warted,  globose, 
9-10  /A. 


4  ^  i 


I 


\ 


2o6 


THE  NORTH  AMIZRICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


Concerning;  this  species,  Dr.  Rex  says,  I.e. :  "  Externally  this 
species  resembles//,  clavata  Pers.,  and  has  probably  often  been 
mistaken  for  it.  The  capillitium,  however,  in  its  structural  de- 
tails and  habit  of  growth,  is  widely  different.  The  partial 
untwisting  of  the  loops  of  the  capillitium  by  drying,  after  the 
rupture  of  the  sporangium,  causes  it  to  be  projected  and  elon- 
gated sometimes  two  or  three  times  the  length  of  the  spo- 
rangium." Outwardly  the  open  sporangium,  by  the  projecting 
free  tips,  reminds  one  of  a  TricJiia.  The  capillitium  is  like  that 
of  //.  vcspariiim,  but  less  rough,  and,  of  course,  different  in  color. 

Rare.     Fairmount  Park,  Philadelphia;  Ohio,  Iowa. 


hit 


i! 


J 


I    f,' 


8.    Hemitrichia  clavata  {Pers.)  Rost. 

PlAlK   III.,    I,    I  /'. 

1794.  Trichia  clavata  Pers.,  Rotn.  AL  Bot.  Mai^.,  I.,  p.  90. 

1S73.  Hi'iiiiiri:hia  clavata  Pers.,  Rost.,  Versiich,  p.  14. 

1S75.  Honiarcyria  clavata  (Pers.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  264. 

1893.  Heiniarcyria  ablata  Morgan, /()///•.  Cin.  Soc.  p.  30. 

1893.  Heuiia)-cyria  fmialis  'Morgan,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  32. 

Sporangia  clavate  or  turbinate,  gregarious,  scattered  or 
crowded,  yellow,  olivaceous  or  brownish,  stipitate ;  the  peridium 
generally  thin,  evanescent  above,  breaking  away  so  as  to  leave 
a  more  or  less  definite  cup  beneath  ;  stipe  about  one-half  the 
total  height,  reddish,  reddish  brown,  or  blackish,  hollow  about 
half-way  down  ;  capillitium  various,  yellow  or  ochraceous,  made 
up  of  slender  threads  more  or  less  freely  branched  and  netted, 
bearing  four  or  five  regular,  even,  spiral  plates  which  project 
sharply  and  are  generally  smooth,  the  free  extremities  numerous 
or  almost  none,  swollen,  or  simply  obtuse ;  spore-mass  concolor- 
ous,  spores  by  transmitted  light  pale  yellow,  globose,  minutely 
but  distinctly  warted,  8-9  /x. 

This  cosmopolitan  species  is  generally  one  of  the  first  brought 
in  by  the  collector,  its  color  and  comparatively  large  size,  2-3  mm. 
high,  making  it  conspicuous.  Nevertheless,  we  are  not  able  to  rec- 
ognize it  in  the  descriptions  of  the  older  authors.  Rostafinski 
quotes  Schmiedel,  /eoues,  1776,  as  affording  the  earliest  account 


■*<\i 


HEMITRICHIA 


207 


of  the  species,  but  neither  his  description  nor  figure  is  definitive. 
Even  Bulliard  fails  us  here,  and  is  differently  interpreted  by 
different  authors.  Persoon's  description  is  none  too  good,  but 
is  reenforced  by  Fries  and  Rostafinski.  The  capillitium  is  vari- 
able both  in  the  degree  of  smoothness  presented,  and  in  the 
number  of  free  ends,  and  the  amount  of  branching.  The  spores 
in  all  specimens  we  have  examined  are  remarkably  constant  in 
size  and  surface.  In  typical  specimens  free  ends  are  easily  dis- 
coverable, the  branching  forms  a  definite  net,  and  the  perfectly 
formed  capillitial  thread  is  smooth.  In  some  American  forms 
—  developed  under  less  favorable  circumstances .?— the  net 
is  less  determined,  the  free  ends  are  many,  and  the  spirals 
minutely  rough.     Here  may  be  placed  H.  fmialis  Morgan,  I.e. 

Widely  distributed.      New    England   to  Colorado,   south    to 
Mexico. 


v?l 


9.    Hemitrichia  stipitata  Mass. 

1889.     Hemiarcyria  stipitata  Mass., >;//-.  Mic.  Soc.  p.  354. 
1893.     Hemiarcyria  plumosa,  Morgan, >7/r.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  29. 

Sporangia  scattered,  seldom  crowded,  obovoid  or  turbinate, 
olivaceous  yellow,  stipitate ;  the  peridium  smooth  without,  gran- 
ulose  within,  evanescent  above,  persisting  as  a  funnel-shaped 
cup  below ;  the  stipe  long,  reddish  or  blackish,  rising  from  a 
small  hypothallus ;  capillitium  of  threads  5-6  mm.  thick,  very 
much  branched,  forming  a  dense  net,  free  ends  none,  or  not 
evident ;  the  sculpture  as  in  H.  clavata,  smooth  and  regular ; 
spore-mass  yellow;  spores  by  transmitted  light  pale  yellow' 
minutely  warted,  7-8  ^i. 

This  form  corresponds  in  nearly  every  respect  with  //. 
clavata,  except  in  the  structure  of  the  capillitium.  The  color 
is  rather  ochraceous,  dirty  yellow,  and  the  stij^e  is  proportion- 
ally longer  and  darker,  but  the  form  of  the  net  is  positive  and 
gives  to  the  species  a  decidedly  striking  and  unique  appearance, 
so  that  it  may  be  recognized  by  the  naked  eye. 

Common.  Ohio,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Iowa,  and  west;  south  to 
Mexico. 


ii  M 


If   it 


III  11 


208 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


lo,    Hemitrichia  MONTANA  Morgan. 

Sporangia  scattered  or  gregarious,  more  or  less  closely,  glo- 
bose, whitish,  sessile  or  very  short  stipitate ;  the  peridium 
opaque,  dull  white,  persistent  below ;  capillitium  deep  yellow, 
the  threads  abundantly  branched,  forming  a  compact  network, 
7  /A  wide,  bearing  spirals  five  or  six,  uneven  and  irregular,  or 
anon  interrupted,  conspicuously  spinulose  or  warted,  free  tips 
not  lacking,  generally  inflated ;  spore-mass  yellow,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  pale,  nearly  colorless,  distinctly  warted,  lO  /a. 

Recognizable  by  its  peculiar  pallid,  sessile  sporangia,  as  by 
the  internal  structure.  Perhaps  related  to  Hcviiarcyria  biick- 
nalli  Mass.  Our  specimens  are  from  Mr,  Morgan,  of  Ohio, 
with  the  statement  that  they  were  collected  in  the  San  Ber- 
nardino Mountains,  California,  by  Mr.  S.  B.  Parrish. 


II' 


li'V 


r  I  I 


%  •  ■*;' 


2.    Calonema  Morgan. 

1893.     Calonevia  Morgan, /(7«r.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  33. 

Sporangia  sub-globose,  crowded  or  superimposed,  irregular, 
sessile  ;  hypothallus  none  ;  capillitium  of  slender  tubules,  arising 
from  the  sporangium  base,  branched,  marked  with  branching 
veins  in  an  irregular  reticulation,  and  terminating  in  free  ex- 
tremities.    Spores  yellow. 

I.    Calonema  aureum  Morgati. 

Tlate  XIII.,  Figs.  2^  2a,  2b,  zc. 
1893.     Calonema  aureum  ^lorgin,  I.e. 

Sporangia  crowded  or  heaped  in  scattered  clusters ;  peridium 
thin,  golden  yellow,  adorned  with  intricate  radiating  veinlets ; 
capillitium  of  threads  more  or  less  branched,  attached  be'ow, 
free  above,  the  surface  to  the  very  tips  venulose,  interrupted 
with  rings  or  fragmentary  spirals,  the  apices  bulbous  and  ob- 
tusely conical ;  spore-mass  yellow,  spores  by  transmitted  light 
bright  yellow,  covered  by  a  network  of  interlocking  plates,  as 
in  7\favoginca,  gXohosQ,  14-16 /a. 


\. 


TRICHIA 


209 


A  curious  form,  related  to  Hanitnchm,  much  as  0/i\ro,u-ma 
IS  to  rnc/na.  Related  to  both  the  genera  first  named,  but  dis- 
tinct, in  the  peculiar  sculpture,  from  Hanitnc/ua  and  from 
0/igoncma  in  that  the  threads  are  not  entirely  free  Professor 
Morgan's  original  determination,  founded  on  Ohio  materials  is 
confirmed  by  material  sent  us  by  Professor  Underwood  from 
Alabama. 

3.    Trichidi  (Haller)  Rost. 

1768.     mc/na  Haller,  H:sL  Stirp.  Heiv.,  III.,  p.  u,  (in  part) . 
1875.     Tnc/ua(H?.]hr)Kost.,J/o,i.,p.243.  ^^     ^      ' 

Sporangia  distinct,  sessile  or  stipitatc ;  capillitium  of  distinct 
elastic  threads,  free,  accuminate  at  each  end.  yellow  or  more 
rarely  reddish  or  brown  ;  spores  generally  yellow. 

The  Trichias  are  easily  recognized  among  their  kind  by  their 
beautiful  spirally  wound,  elastic  capillitial  threads,  the  e/aters  • 
these  are  entirely  free,  about  3-4  mm.  in  length,  simple  or  onl^ 
rarely  branched,  and  generally  acute  at  each  extremity  The 
spiral  bands,  sometimes  called  farmer,  are  generally  very  uniform 
in  thickness,  distance  from  each  other,  and  pitch,  and  in  many 
species  are  further  reenforced  by  minute  longitudinal  plications 
running  from  one  spiral  to  the  next.  Furthermore,  the  spirals 
may  be  smooth  or  spinulose ;  the  clater  uniform  throughout  or 
enlarged  betimes  by  nodes  and  swellings.  Taken  altogether  the 
Trichias  with  the  species  of  the  genus  next  following  exhibit  the 
highest  degree  of  differentiation  attained  by  the  Myxomycetes 

Most  of  the  earlier  authors,  including  Haller,  used  the  generic 
name  Tnc/im  to  cover  a  variety  of  forms.      It  is  here  used  with 
the  limits  sketched  by  De  Bary  in  1859  and  1864  (Du'  Alyxomy. 
cetcn\  and  followed  more  exactly  ten  years  later  by  his  pupil 
Rostafinski.  x    x    . 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Trichia. 

A.    Sporangia,  in  typical  cases  at  least,  wholly  sessile. 
a.    Gregarious  ;  hypothallus  none. 

i.    Peridium  brown  or  reddish  brown. 
*  Elaters  smooth, 
t  Spirals  irregular  ....       2.    T.  contorta 


I 


r 


m  it 


t  t 


210 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


.\i< 


r. 


M 


.4 


lit 


u. 


111. 


I.    T.  inconspicua 
3.    T.  iowensis 

.4.    T.  71  aria 
9.    7'.  piilchella 


«■; 


tt  Spirals  even,  regular 
**  Elaters  rough,  spinescent 
Peridium  olivaceous  or  yellow. 

*  Elaters  smooth 
Peridium  vitelline  yellow,  translucent 
b.  Hypothallus  distinct ;  sporangia  crowded ;  spores  reticulate,  banded, 
or  netted. 

i.   Spore-bands  pitted 6.    7".  pers.iiiiilis 

ii.   Spore-banus,  narrow,  plain        .         .         .7.    T.  favoginea 
iii.   Spores  covered  by  a  delicate  net       .         .  5-    ^-  scabra 

D.   Sporangia  stipitate. 

a.  Hvpothallus  distinct Z.    T.  verrucosa 

b.  Hypothallus  none  ;  peridium  checkered  with  pale  reticulations. 

i.   Brownish  red  or  black       .         .         .         .       10.    T'.  botrytis 
ii.    Olivaceous. 

*  Elaters  smooth             .         .         .         .11.    T.  siibfusca 
**  Elaters  rough \2.    T.  erccta 

c.  Peridium  plain,  shining 13.    7".  decipicm 

1.  Trichia  inconspicua  Rostafinski. 
1875.     Trichia  inconspicua  Rost.,  Mon.^  p.  259. 

Sporangia  gregarious  or  crowded,  small,  spherical,  ellipsoidal 
or  arcuate,  brown  or  reddish  brown,  sessile  ;  hypothallus  none  ; 
capillitium  dull,  dark,  ochraceous,  the  elaters  long,  slender,  even, 
about  3  \x>  wide,  the  spirals  three  or  four  rather  closely  wound, 
the  apices  attenuate,  acute,  sometimes  turned  to  one  side ;  spore- 
mass  concolorous,  spores  pale  ochraceous,  minutely  but  distinctly 
warted,  10-12  /a. 

One  of  the  smallest  of  the  TricJiiae,  not  uncommon  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  on  decaying  fallen  stems  of  Populus  —  sp. 
Distinguished  at  sight  from  all  except  No.  3  following,  by  its 
small  size  and  brown  color.  Under  the  lens  the  long,  delicate, 
finely  sculptured  capillitial  threads,  with  fine  tapering  points, 
are  distinctive. 

New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Mis- 
souri, Nebraska ;   Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

2.  Trichia  contorta  {Ditntar)  Rost. 

ri.ATK  XIII.,  Figs.  7,  7  a. 
181 1.     Lycogala  contortuin  Ditmar,  Sturm.  Deutsch.  FL,  III.,  Tab.  5. 


TRICHIA  211 

1872.     Trichia  reniformis  Peck.,  Rep.  N.  K  Mns.,  XXVI.,  p.  74. 

1875.     Trichia  contorta  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  259. 

1891.     Trichia  amiersoni  Rex.  /^r^t.  Phil,  Acad.,  p.  395. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  or  crowded,  small,  ellipsoid  or  reniform, 
arcuate,  dark  red  brown,  sessile ;  hypothallus  none ;  capillitial 
mass  ochraccous  or  dull  yellow,  the  elaters  few,  irregular,  the 
spirals  uneven,  irregular,  often  projecting  and  thin,  though 
generally  flat  or  obscure,  the  apices  more  or  less  swollen,  ensil- 
ing in  a  curved  tip;  spore-mass  concolorous,  spores  beneath  the 
lens  bright  yellow,  papillose,  10-12  fi. 

This  species  resembles  the  preceding  in  color,  but  is  of  less 
aggregate  habit,  and  the  sporangia  are  more  plasmodiocarpous 
reniform,  arcuate,  etc.  The  capillitium  is  also  distinctive,  the 
sculpture  irregular,  uneven  with  general  lack  of  symmetry. 
Our  description  is  made  up  from  specimens  of  T.  reniformis 
Peck,  which  appears  to  be  the  American  form  of  Rostafinski's 
species.  T.  andcrsoni  Rex  is  perhaps  the  same,  if  one  may 
judge  from  the  scanty  material  now  available  for  study.  The 
species  is  to  be  looked  for  on  fallen  stems  of  deciduous  trees 
in  mountainous  regions. 

Rare.     New  York,  Montana.? 

3.   Trichia  iowensis  Macbr. 

Plate  III.,  Figs.  3,  3 .?,  3  ^  ;    Plate  X..  Fig.  5. 
1892.     Trichia  iowensis  Macbr.,  la.  Bull.  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  II.,  p.  133. 

Sporangia  sessile,  gregarious,  spherical  or  reniform,  with 
no  hypothallus,  purple  brown  ;  spores  and  spore-mass  yellow ; 
elaters  with  three  or  four  spiral  bands  unevenly  distributed,' 
and  with  occasional  inflations,  sparingly  branched,  spinulose,' 
especially  where  inflated ;  spinules  long,  3-6  /.,  recurved,  often 
bifid  or  trifid,  especially  at  or  near  the  acuminate  tip ;  spores 
delicately  warted,  9- 11  fx,. 

This  species  occurs  not  rarely  and  is  found  on  the  bark  of 
Popn/ns,  so  far,  exclusively.  The  sporangia  are  inconspicuous 
until   opening  by  fissure  they  display  the    yellow  spores   and 


V 


'«:tl 


''1 


212 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


t 


1  >     !> 


■':?/ 


w 


%  ^K 


I  'if.'  * 


i;  i 


capillitial  threads.  The  species  is  immediately  recognized  by 
its  claters,  whose  numerous  and  lengthened  spinules  are  unlike 
those  of  any  cognate  form,  reminding  one  of  the  capillitium 
of  OpJiiothcca.  Related  to  the  two  preceding,  but  distinct  by 
its  spinulose  capillitium. 

Iowa,  Missouri;  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

4.   Trichia  varia  {Pcrs.)  Rost. 

Platk  IV.,  iMgs.  3,  ^a,  T,b. 

1791.     Stcmonitis  varia  Pers.,  Gmel.,  Syst.  Nat.,  II.,  p.  1470. 
1829.     Trichia  varia  (Pers.)  Fries,  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  188. 
1875.     Trichia  varia  (Pers.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  251. 

Sporangia  gregarious  or  sometimes  closely  crowded,  globose, 
obovoid,  or  irregularly  globoid,  yellowish  or  ochraceous,  shin- 
ing, sessile,  or  with  short  black  stipe  ;  hypothallus  none ;  capil- 
litium of  rather  long,  simple,  or  more  rarely  branched  elaters, 
4-5  fi  wide,  marked  by  irregular  spirals  generally  only  two, 
prominent  and  narrow  and  in  places  remote,  the  apices  acute, 
about  twice  the  elater  diameter ;  spore-mass  yellow,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  dull  yellow,  12-14  f^>  delicately  verruculose, 
guttulate. 

A  very  common  species,  very  variable  in  form,  stipitate  forms 
occurring  anon  beside  those  which  arc  irregular  and  sessile. 
According  to  Rostafinski  the  stipitate  phase  constitutes  the 
T.  }iigripcs  of  Persoon  and  other  authors.  The  capillitium  is, 
however,  characteristic  throughout.  The  two  spiral  bands 
wind  loosely  and  irregularly  and  present  an  elater  unlike  any- 
thing else  in  the  group  except  the  same  structure  in  T.  contorta, 
but  here  the  elater  is  narrow  and  the  sculpture  obscure.  Since 
the  specific  distinctions  are  purely  microscopic,  the  synonymy 
beyond  Rostafiniski  is  mainly  conjectural.  It  is  possible  that 
Fries  properly  applied  the  name. 

Common.  Maine  to  Oregon  and  California,  and  south  to 
Arkansas  and  Alabama. 


),.■    I, 


TRICHIA 


213 


ized  by 
i  unlike 
oillitium 
tinct  by 


globose, 
.IS,  shin- 
2 ;  capil- 
elatcrs, 
tily  two, 
;s  acute, 
pores  by 
ruculose, 

.te  forms 
[  sessile, 
iites  the 
itium  is, 
il  bands 
like  any- 
contorta, 
:.  Since 
^monymy 
lible  that 

south  to 


5.   Tkichia  scabra  Rost. 

P1.AT1;  IV.,  Figs.  4,  4  <7,  4  //. 
1875.     Trichia  scabra  Rost.,  Mon.^  p.  258. 

Sporangia  closely  crowded  upon  a  well-developed  hypothal- 
lus,  regular,  globose  or  turbinate  globose,  orange  or  golden 
brown,  smooth,  shining  ;  capillitial  mass  clear,  golden  yellow, 
or  sometimes  rusty  orange,  the  elaters  simple,  long,  4-5  y,  in 
width,  the  spirals  three  or  four,  closely  wound,  spinulose,  even 
and  regular,  the  apices  short,  acuminate ;  spore-mass  concolor- 
ous,  under  the  lens  spores  yellow,  covered  by  a  delicate  fine- 
meshed  network,  or  simply  spinulose  under  low  power,  10-12  /a. 

Generally  a  well-marked  species,  easily  recognized  by  its 
regular  but  roughened  capillitial  threads.  Under  a  ^^  objective 
the  spores  are  also  diagnostic.  To  the  unaided  eye  it^•esembles 
the  next  species  in  both  color  and  habit.  Fructifications  two 
inches  or  more  in  length  and  half  as  wide  are  not  infrequent  on 
the  lower  side  of  fallen  stems  in  forests  of  deciduous  trees. 

Not  uncommon.  Maine  to  Washington,  Oregon,  Alaska,  and 
south  to  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 

6.   Trichia  persimilis  Karst. 

Plate  IV.,  Figs.  \,  i  a,  \  b,  \  c  ;   i>,  (^  a,  dh,  dc,  G  d. 

1868.  Trichia persinnUs  Karst.,  Not.  Saellslc.  Fenn.  Fork.  IX.,  p.  353. 

1869.  Trichia  affuiis  De  Bary,  Fuckel.  Sym.  Myc,  p.  336. 
1875.     Trichia  jack  a  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  258. 

1877,  Trichia  abrupta  Cke.,  Myxom.  U.  S.,  p.  404. 

1878.  Trichia  proximella  Karst.,  Myc.  Fciui.,  IV.,  p.  139. 

Sporangia  globose  or  obovoid  or  irregularly  spherical,  shining, 
golden  yellow  to  tawny,  anon  iridescent  with  metallic  lustre, 
sessile;  hypothallus  thin,  but  usually  very  distinct;  capillitial 
mass  ochraccous  or  tawny  yellow,  the  elaters  long,  even,  about 
4  /*  wide,  the  spirals  four,  more  or  less  spinulose,  generally 
joined  by  longitudinal  ridges,  the  apices  short,  tapering  regu- 
larly, anon  bifurcate;  spore-mass  concolorous,  spores  by 
transmitted  light  bright  yellow,  marked  by  an  irregular  or 
fragmentary  banded  reticulation,  the  bands  broad,  flat,  and 
pitted,   io~i2  /A.     Plasmodium  said  to  be  white. 


i 


11 


?!■    '   ) 


>  •!  t] 


f ;« 


i 


214 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAiY  SUME-MOULDS 


■V 


This  species,  common  throu<^hout  the  northern  world,  is  dis- 
tinj^^uished  from  its  congener,  the  following,  not  only  by  the 
episporic  character,  but  generally  by  its  different  peridium  and 
more  sombre  colors.  It  never  shows  at  maturity  the  brilliant 
golden  yellow  fluff  that  hangs  in  masses  about  the  open  and 
empty  peridia  of  T.  favoginea,  a  fact  not  unnoted  by  Batsch, 
and  rendering  his  figure  and  description  so  far  determinable, 

The  epispor'c  network  shows  all  degrees  of  perfection  or 
imperfection,  and  the  elater  also  varies  somewhat  both  in  the 
apices  and  distinctness  of  longitudinal  striae.  The  several 
synonyms  listed  seem  to  have  taken  origin  in  a  recognition  of 
some  of  the  more  pronounced  variivtions.  In  any  event  the 
American  form  T.  abrnpta  Cke.,  with  bifid  apices,  belongs  here, 
and  European  specimens  seem  to  show  the  identity  of  forms 
described  by  Karsten  and  De  Bary. 

Not  rare.  New  England,  Canada,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  Alabama,  Missouri,  and  west. 


; 


^1 


itti 


7.    Trichia  favoginea  {Batsch)  Pcrs. 

Tlate  IV.,  Figs.  5,  5  «,  5  b. 

1786.  Lycoperdon  favogineum  Batsch,  Elench.  Fung.,  p.  257,  Fig.  173,  «,  b. 

lyqi .  Spliarocarpiis  chysospeniins  Bull.,  Chmiip.  dc  Fr.,  Tab.  417,  Fig.  4. 

1794.  Trichia  favoginea  (Batsch')  Pers.,  R'oi/i.  iV.  Mag.  Bot.,  I.,  p.  90. 

1875.  Trichia  chrysosperiiia  (Bull.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  255. 

Sporangia  closely  crowded,  cylindric  or  prismatic  by  mutual 
pressure,  obovoid,  sessile,  olivaceous  yellow,  smooth  and  shin- 
ing ;  the  peridium  thin,  opening  above  somewhat  stellately, 
persistent ;  capillitium  golden  yellow,  escaping  entirely  from 
the  peridia,  and  forming  large  woolly  masses  above  them,  the 
threads  lOng,  even,  beautifully  sculptured,  bearing  spirals  about 
four,  usually  smooth  and  connected  by  light  longitudinal  ridges, 
the  apices  short  tapering,  about  equal  to  the  width  of  the  elater, 
6-7  /"■;  spores  concolorous,  by  transmitted  light  paler,  but  still 
bright  yellow,  the  episporic  net  conspicuous,  the  bands  narrow 
and  high,  not  pitted  nor  fragmentary,  in  form  irregularly 
globose,  12-14  /*•     Plasmodium  yellow. 


rRicnLi 


215 


ig.  4. 


A  common  and  beautiful  species  recognizable  at  sight,  alter 
the  peridia  break,  by  the  aggregate  capillitium  constantly  in 
evidence  above  the  abandoned  vasiform  peridia.  The  figures 
of  Bulliard  are  unsatisfactory,  although  the  description  he 
gives  and  the  name  he  suggests,  still  current,  may  lead  us  to 
concede  that  he  had  our  species  before  him.  The  spores  are 
larger  than  in  T.  pcrsimilis,  and  the  episporic  net  different,  the 
"border"  wider.  The  Plasmodium  in  the  latitude  of  Iowa  not 
uncommon  in  woods  in  June,  after  emerging  passes  into  fruit 
in  the  laboratory  in  about  forty-eight  hours,  and  the  rui)ture  of 
the  peridia  follows  presently.  The  hypothallus  is  quite  distinct, 
extra-marginal,  and  in  substance  like  to  the  peridial  wall. 

Not  rare.     Throughout  the  northern  forests,  Maine  to  Wash- 
ington and  Oregon,  south  to  Alabama,  Louisiana,  Mexico. 

8.   Trichia  verrucosa  Berk. 

i860.     Trichia  verrucosa,  Fl.  Tasm.,  II.,  p.  269. 

Sporangia  pyriform,  or  obovoid,  shining,  ochraceous  from  the 
color  of  the  contents,  stipitate,  more  or  less  botryoid  or  connate ; 
stipe  twice  the  height  of  the  spore-case,  reddish  brow  ,1,  simple 
or  consolidated  with  others,  weak,  inclined,  or  procumbent; 
hypothallus  distinct ;  spore-mass  ochraceous  yellow,  the  elaters 
simple,  with  smooth  tapering  points,  with  spirals  three  or  four, 
the  spores  beautifully  and  strongly  reticulate,  after  the  manner 
of  the  spores  in  the  species  preceding,  with  the  meshes  gener- 
ally complete  and  always  large,  quite  variable  in  size,  12-16  /x. 

Rostafinski  quotes  the  species  {i-ste  Lester)  from  Chili. 
Specimens  in  the  herbarium  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa 
are  from  Jalapa,  Mexico,  collected  by  Mr  C.  L.  Smith.  The 
species  may  be  therefore  expected  in  the  southern  United 
States.  Berkeley  described  it  from  Tasmania.  T.  superba 
Mass.  from  description  would  seem  to  be  the  same  thing. 

9.  Trichia  pulchella  Rcx. 

1893.     Trichia  pulchella  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  366. 

Sporangia  solitary  or  in  groups  of  four  or  five,  bright  vitelline 


i    <' 


%'■   * 


m. 


i-i  ' 


I 


2l6 


THE  XORTH  AMERICAN  SUME-MOULDS 


yellow,  scssil  ;  the  peridiuni  thin,  transparent,  openinj^  irregu- 
larly above  ;  hyi^othalius  none  ;  capillitiiim  bright  yellow,  not 
emergent,  the  threads  narrow,  3  4  /w,  wound  with  spirals  three 
or  four,  more  or  less  irregular,  smooth,  longitudinal  ridges  want- 
ing, the  apices  rather  long,  acuminate,  about  twice  the  diameter 
of  the  elater,  or  anon  clavate  or  even  globose,  bulbose  at  the 
tip  and  furnished  with  several  stout  spines ;  si)ore-mass  concol- 
orous ;  under  the  lens  spores  colorless,  marked  by  a  very  feebly 
developed  reticulation  of  the  T.  pcysi)nilis  tyjie,  but  the  bands 
narrow  and,  as  shown  by  the  narrow  "  border,"  low,  the  meshes 
few  and  often  imperfect,  globose  or  sub-globose,  about  12  ft. 

The  cpisporic  characters  of  this  species  ally  it  to  T.  pcrsimilis 
most  nearly.  The  reticulations  are  possibly  not  more  divergent 
from  the  typical  form  of  that  species  than  arc  the  same  features 
in  some  other  forms  there  included.  But  in  the  present  case, 
added  to  the  cpisporic  sculpture,  we  must  reckon  the  peculiar 
capillitial  thread,  unlike  that  seen  in  either  of  the  chrysosper- 
matous  forms,  and  the  gregarious  habit  without  hypothallus. 
These  peculiarities  seemed  to  Dr.  Rex  distinctive,  and  as  they 
appear  constant  they  may  be  left  to  separate  the  species. 


u 


f  H 


I., 


'i'l 


10.    Trichia  botrytis  Pcrsoon. 

Plate  XIII.,  Figs.  8,  8^. 

1791.  Stcmonitis  botrytis  Pers..  Gmel.,  Syst.  Nat.^  II.,  p.  1468. 

1794.  Trichia  botrytis  Pers.,  Rout.  N.  Mag.  Bot.,  I.,  p.  89. 

1829.  Trichia  pyriforinis  Fries.  Syst.  Myc,  III.,  p.  184. 

1803.  Sphcerocarpiis  frai;ilis  Sowerby,  Eiig.  Eiiiij^.,  I.,  p.  279.  (?) 

1875.  Trichia  fragilis  (Sow.)  Rost.,  Mon.,  p.  246. 

1846.  Trichia  latcritia  L^v.,  Ann.  Sci.  JVat.,  3,  V.,  p.  167. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  scattered,  sometimes  combined  in  clus- 
ters, pyriform  or  turbinate,  stipitate,  red  purple  or  ochraceous 
brown,  the  peridium  breaking  up  irregularly,  the  dehiscence 
sometimes  prefigured  by  pale  reticulations  on  the  surface ;  stipe 
solid,  single,  or  united  in  clusters  of  five  or  more  together,  dark- 
colored,  red  or  purple  brown,  opaque ;  capillitium  orange,  ochra- 
ceous yellow,  or  even  red  or  reddish  brown,  the  threads  simple 


'0 


1  M 


TRICIIIA 


217 


or  rarely  branched,  long-fusiform,  about  4  /x  thick  at  the  centre, 
tapering  gradually  to  the  long  acuminate  but  linally  blunt  tips, 
the  spirals  four,  even,  smooth,  rather  closely  wcnuid  and  trace- 
able almost  to  the  apex  ;  spores  concolorous  in  mass,  under  the 
lens  pale,  globose,  more  or  less  closely  minutely  warted  but  not 
reticulate,  10-12  /*. 

A  species  remarkable  for  its  variations  in  color.  More  com- 
monly the  unopened  sporangia  are  almost  black,  and  the  capil- 
litium  crimson  or  brick  red,  resembling  that  of  Hi)>ii/ric/iia 
vcspariuvi.  In  other  cases  the  jieridium  is  dull,  opacpie  brown, 
by  reason  of  a  dense  outer  layer  of  brown  granules,  and  pallid 
streaks  of  dehiscence  show  plainly.  The  sporangia  reach  some- 
times 4  mm.  in  height,  but  are  usually  much  shorter,  the  stipe 
one-half. 

By  the  descriptions  of  the  earlier  authors  it  is  impossible 
to  distinguish  this  from  //.  vcsparinm  on  the  one  hand,  and  T. 
dccipicns  on  the  other.  T.  botiytis  Pers.,  /.r.,  gives  us  first  secure 
foothold.  Fries  discards  Pcrsoon's  appellation  as  unsuitable 
and  improperly  applied,  and  takes  up  what  he  deems  an  older 
specific  designation,  T.  pyyiforuiis  Leers.  Ikit  Rostafinski  is 
certain  Leers  had  A.  punicca  in  mind,  and  that  other  early 
names  are  equally  ill  applied.  Rostafinski  rejects  Pcrsoon's 
name  simply  as  not  pertinent  in  every  case.  Massee  examined 
the  specimens  of  Leveille,  and  finds  them  belonging  here. 

Not  common,  but  with  wide  n  age.  Maine,  Massachusetts, 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Oregon,  Washington. 


I 


14       f 


II.   Trichia  subfusca  Rcx. 

i8go.     Trichia  subfusca  Rex,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.,  p.  192. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  scattered,  dull  tawny  brown,  shading 
to  dark  brown  below,  about  \  mm.  in  diameter,  globose,  stipi- 
tatc ;  stipe  short,  about  equal  to  the  sporangium,  stout,  brown 
or  brownish  black,  rugulose,  solid  ;  capillitial  mass  bright  straw 
color ;  the  elatcrs  long  cylindrical,  3-4  /-t  wide,  adorned  with 
spirals  four,  which  wind  unevenly,  are  perfectly  smooth,  and 
terminate  in  abrupt  tips  about  twice  the  diameter  of  the  elater ; 


1; 

* 

i 

ill 

i 
j 

1 

1    \ 
i 

! 

t 

1 

r 

■I    ■. 

■    1  r 

2lS 


THE  NORTH  AAHCR/CAX  Sl.lME-MOUl.DS 


spores  yellow,  under  the  lens  yellow,  minutely  and  closely 
warted,  globose,  I2  ^. 

The  spores  o:^'  this  species  resemble  closely  those  of  the  pre- 
ceding, but  the  sporangium  is  at  sight  different  in  apjiearance 
and  pr()p(jrtions  and  the  cajMlHtium  not  the  same  at  all.  The 
elaters  arc  never  fusiform,  the  apices  always  abrupt  in  their 
acumination,  and  the  sculpture  irregular  and  uneven.  In  form 
the  elater  resembles  that  of  T,  scabra.  The  description  is 
drawn  from  specimens,  N.  A.  F.,  2495,  with  which,  however, 
specimens  received  from  Dr.  Rex  and  later  collected  exactly 
correspond. 

New  York. 


n 


.w 


\2.   Trichia  erecta  Rcx. 

1890.     Trichia  erecta  Rex,  rroc.  Phil.  Acad..,  p.  193. 

Sporangia  gregarious,  often  in  clusters  of  two  or  three  to- 
gether, but  generally  single,  nut  brown,  checkered  with  '  >ad, 
conspicuous  yellow  dehiscence  bands,  globose,  I  mm.  wid  pi- 
tate  ;  stipe  double  the  sporangium,  dark  brown,  solid  ;  capillitial 
mass  bright  yellow,  the  elaters  cylindric,  3-4  yu.  wide,  terminat- 
ing in  apices  short  and  smooth,  adorned  with  spirals,  four, 
coarsely  spinulose,  winding  unevenly  or  even  branching  and  so 
united  to  one  another ;  spore-mass  yellow,  spores  by  transmitted 
light  i:)alc,  globose,  minutely  warted,  12  /*. 

Distinguished  at  sight  by  the  peculiarly  mottled  peridium. 
T.  dotrytis  in  its  ochraceous  forms  sometimes  shows  tendency 
to  the  same  thing,  but  the  checkered  surface  is  here  conspicu- 
ous. The  elaters  resemble  those  of  the  preceding  form,  but  are 
remarkably  rough. 

Rare.     Adirondacks,  New  York. 


13.     Trichia  decipiens  {Pcrs.)  Macbr. 


ri.ATK    IV 


•igs.  2,  2 


1793.     Lycopcrdon  pHsillioii  Hedwig,  Abh.,  I.,  p.  35.  Tab.  iii.,  Fig. 

1795.  Arcyria  decipiens  Pers.,  C/st.  Attn.  Bot.,  XV.,  p.  35. 

1796.  Trichia fallaxVQX?,.,  Obs.  Myc,  I.,  p.  59,  etc. 


OUGOXEM.  t 


2ig 


SjK)rrin<;ia  gregarious,  sometimes  closely  so,  sometimes  scat- 
tered tiirbiiKite,  shining  olive  or  olivaceous  brown,  stipitate  ; 
stipe  generally  elongate,  concolorous  above,  dark  brown  below, 
hollow,  /.<•.  tilled  with  spore-like  cells ;  capillitial  mass  yellowish 
or  olivaceous  yellow,  the  claters  perfectly  smooth,  long  fusiform, 
tapering  gradually  to  the  long,  20  40  n,  slender  apices,  simple 
or  often  branched,  adorned  with  spirals  three,  whii  h  wind 
evenly  but  somewhat  distantly  ;  spore-mass  olivaceous  or  ochra- 
ccous,  spores  under  the  lens,  pale,  minutely  delicately  reticulate, 
10   12  fi. 

One  of  our  largest  and  most  common  sjiecies,  in  form  and 
size  resembling  //.  clavata,  but  immediately  distinguished  by  its 
color.  The  capillitium  is  like  that  of  T.  botrytis,  but  differs  in 
the  more  open  sculpture  and  the  longer  and  smoother  unwound 
tips.  The  episporic  net  is  a  constant  character  in  all  the  speci- 
mens examined.     This  feature  reminds  of  7'.  scabra. 

This  is,  of  course,  our  familiar  T.  faUax  of  all  authors  from 
Per.soon  down.  The  earliest  unmistakable  reference  to  this 
species  is  Medwig,  I.e.  Hut  Hatsch,  in  1789,  had  used  the 
same  combination  to  describe  a  real  puff-ball,  so  that  Hechvig's 
name  was  already  a  synonym.  The  specific  name  here  adopted 
is  next  in  point  of  priority,  although  Persoon  discarded  it  the 
year  following,  substituting  fa//ax,  becau.se  he  had  mistaken 
the  genus. 

Not  rare.  New  England  to  the  Black  Mills  and  Wash- 
ington, south  to  the  Carolinas  and  Kansas ;  Jalapa,  Mexico. 


I 


4.   Ollgonema. 

1875.     Olii^oiieina  Rost.,  Moii.,  p.  291. 

Sporangia  distinct,  small,  generally  crowded  together  and 
superimposed;  hypothallus  none;  capillitium  scanty,  the  sculji- 
ture  rudimentary  and  imperfect,  scattered  rings  or  mere  rough- 
enings,  sometimes  imperfect  or  faint  spirals;  spores  yellow. 

The  Oligoncmas  are  simply  degenerate  TricJiiac,  and  show 
the  vagaries  usually  to  be  noted  in  a  passing  type.     They  arc 


f  I 


;  \\ 


i   ( 


■i  i. 


■i, 


kt' 


(II     '  ij 


220 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


difficult  to  define,  and  the  species  are  indeed  variable.     Those 
here  listed  seem  to  offer  constant  features  throughout  our  range. 


\.i 


2.  O.  brevifila 


I   >.; 


Key  to  Species  of  Oligonema. 

A.  Spores  reticulate. 

a.  Sporangia  in  broad  effused  patches 

b.  Sporangia  in  small  heaped  clusters. 

i.  Elaters  roughened,  no  distinct  rings  or  spirals, 

I.  O. flavidum 
ii.  Elaters  with  scattered  rings ;  sometimes  faint  spirals, 

3.  O.  nit  ens 

B.  Spores  warted 4.  (9.  fitlvum 


^ 


M 


i^ 


'M 


1'^. 


'i 


I.   Oligonema  Y'LhMiGXiVi.  {Peck)  Mass. 

1874.     PerichcEua  flavida  Peck,  Rep.  N.  V.  Mus.,  p.  76. 
1892.     Oligonema  flavidum  (Peck)  Mass.,  Mon.,  p.  171. 

Sporangia  crowded  and  superimposed,  sessile  in  small  masses 
or  clusters  i  cm.  or  less,  bright  yellow,  shining,  the  peridium 
thin  but  opaque,  yellow ;  capillitium  of  long,  slender  tubules 
usually  simple,  anon  branched,  even,  or  with  an  occasional  infla- 
tion, the  sculpture  confined  to  varts  or  small,  distinct  spinules, 
roughening  more  or  less  conspicuously  the  entire  surface,  the 
apices  generally  obtuse,  anon  apiculate;  spore-mass  yellow, 
spores  under  the  lens  pale  yellow,  irregularly  globose,  beau- 
tifully reticulate,  the  meshes  large  and  few,  as  in  TricJiia 
favogifica,  12-14  /i. 

This  species  is  marked  by  its  capillitium,  which  is  abundant 
for  the  present  genus.  The  threads  arc  longer  than  in  any 
other  species,  and  not  infrequently  branched,  smooth,  or  more 
commonly,  very  distinctly  minutely  spinulose  throughout,  no 
trace  of  rings  or  relief  sculpture  of  any  sort,  the  spirals,  that 
arc  to  be  expected,  very  imperfect,  jf  discernible  at  all.  In 
habit  the  species  resembles  O.  nitens,  but  the  colonies  are 
much  larger,  and  the  sporangia  higher  and  larger,  attaining 
I  mm. 

New  England  to  Iowa  and  Nebraska ;  south  to  Alabama  and 
Louisiana. 


OLIGOXEMA 


221 


2.    Oligonema  brevifila  Peck. 

1878.     Oligonema  brevifila  Peck,  Rep.  IV.  Y.  Mus.,  p.  42. 

Sporangia  small,  cylmdric,  dull  ochraccous  yellow,  sessile, 
closely  crowded,  sometimes  superimposed,  forming  large,  effused 
patches  several  centimetres  in  extent;  capillitium  exceedingly 
scant,  consisting  of  nothing  more  than  a  few  minute  threads, 
very  short,  only  three  or  four  times  the  diameter  of  the  spore' 
smooth,  or  without  any  definable  sculpture,  ochraccous ;  spore- 
mass  dark  ochraccous,  under  the  lens  the  spores  are  brighter, 
marked  with  reticulations  much  as  in  other  species  of  the  g^enus' 
10-12  IX.  ' 

Separate  from  the  preceding  chiefly  in  color  and  habit.  To 
the  naked  eye  the  fructification  suggests  Tncha  pa'similis ; 
the  color  much  the  same,  and  the  sporangia  similarly  congested. 
The  pecuHarly  rudimentary  condition  of  the  capillitium  is 
apparently  also  constant.  Iowa  specimens  ::ccord  perfectly 
with  those  from  New  York. 

Rare.  New  York,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  North  Carolina, 
Iowa,  Missouri. 


%    \ 


■s 


J  1     > 

\ 


<» 


3.    Oligonema  nitens  {Liberf)  Rost. 

Tlate  VIII.,  Figs.  S.      .7,  S^. 

1834.     Trichia  nitens  Libert,  PI.  Cr.  An/.,  III.,  No.  237. 
1875.     '^%'"«^w« '"'^tv/^-  (Libert)  Rost.,  JAw..  p.  291. 
1883.     Tric/ua  piisilla  Schroeter,  A>.  /•/.  Sc/il.,  III.,  p.  114. 

Sporangia  gathered  in  small  heaped  clusters,  irregularly 
spherical,  bright  straw  color  or  yellow,  sessile,  superimposed, 
the  peridium  thin,  smooth,  and  shining;  capillitium  of  short 
elaters,  simple  or  branched,  smooth,  adorned  with  an  occasional 
projecting  ring,  often  with  faint  spiral  sculpture  spreading 
especially  toward  the  apices,  which  are  blunt  or  anon  acute"] 
the  point  sometimes  fle.xed  or  bent  to  one  side,  never  very  long  \ 
spore-mass  bright  yellow,  spores  globose,  beautifully  rcticulat^e,' 

12-14/^. 

Readily  recognized  at  sight  by  its  heaped,  sh: 


r?' 


Isten- 


•t 


I'J 


222 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  SLIME-MOULDS 


I  •! 


ing  sporangia.    The  capillitial  threads  are  further  definitive,  and 
serve  to  distinguish  i^  from  everything  else. 

The  range  is  wiae,  probably  coextensive  with  the  forests  of 
the  country.  Specimens  are  before  us  from  New  England, 
Canada,  Montana,  and  all  intervening  regions,  and  south  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 


t  ' 


4.    Oligonema  fulvum  Morgmi. 

1893.     Oligonema  fulvum  Morgan,  Jour.  Cin.  Soc,  p.  42. 

Sporangia  large,  sub-globose,  sessile,  crowded,  more  or  less 
irregular;  the  peridium  tawny  yellow,  very  thin  and  fragile, 
iridescent ;  mass  of  capillitium  and  spores  tawny  yellow,  elaters 
simple  or  sometimes  branched,  very  short,  sometimes  with 
thicker  swollen  portions,  the  surface  marked  with  low  smooth 
spirals,  in  places  faint  and  obsolete,  the  extremities  rounded 
and  obtuse,  usually  with  a  minute  apiculus ;  spores  globose, 
minutely  warted,  10-13  /*. 

This  species  may  be  recognized  by  its  tawny,  irregular,  more 
or  less  crowded  sporangia.  Under  the  lens  the  warted,  not 
reticulate,  spores  are  diagnostic.  The  elaters  are  quite  con- 
stantly marked  by  imperfect  spirals. 

Our  specimens  are  from  the  author  of  the  species,  and  so  far 
there  are  none  reported  from  outside  Ohio. 


'5  ill 


INDEX 


■1 


LyCOGALACE/E 


NATURAL  ORDERS,  Etc. 


PAGE 


Cribrariace^ 14c 

EXOSPORE.-E 17 


174 


PHYSARACE/E 21 


Phytomyxin.k 

StEMONITACE/E 

Trichiace^     . 


PAGE 

16 

107 

179 


GENERA 


AMAUROCH/ETE 

dfj.avp6s,  dusky,  and  x<'"T'?,  hair. 

Gr. 
Arcyria 

ipKvov,  a  net.    Gr. 
Badhamia 

C.  D.  Badluitii  ;  personal. 
Brefeldia  

O.  Brefcld ;  personal. 
Calonema   

KaXds,   beautiful,   and   v^/ua,   a 

thread.     Gr. 
Ceratiomvxa 

Kepdriov,  a  small  horn,  and  /xiJ^a, 
mucus.     Gr. 

ClENKOW.SKIA 

ZeoH  Cieiikoxvski ;  personal. 

Clastuder.ma 

K'KaffTbSf  broken,  and  bipixa,  der- 
mis, skin  or  covering.     Gr. 

Comatricha 

KbfXT)  and  dpL^,  both  words  mean- 
ing hair.     Gr. 

Cratekium 

Kpar-qp,  a  vessel,     Gr. 

Cribraria 

cribrum,  a  sieve.     Lat. 


PAGE 
108 


189 
62 

IIO 

20S 

79 
138 

123 

73 
159 


PAGE 


Diachea 

Siax^u,  to  pour  out ;  the  appli- 
cation not  patent.     Gr. 

DlANEMA 180 

Sia,  through  or  across,  and  vrj/xa, 
thread.     Gr. 

DlCTYDlLM 171 

SUrvov,  a  net.     Gr. 


DlCTVDI.ETItAI.U-M     .... 

Dictydium  and  a'thalium  ;    the 

latter  from  aWaXoi,  sooty.     Gr. 
Diderma 

dls,  twice  or  twofold,  and  d^pfia, 

as  aljove.     CJr. 

HlDYMIUM     

5i8v/Mos,  double.     Gr. 
Enekthi.ne.ma 


fvepOe,     below,     and     vij/J-a,    a 
thread. 


Enteridiim 


fvrepov,  the  intestine,     (jr. 


Fri.ic, 


fuligo,  soot.     Lat. 
Hem  I  ARCYRIA     .     .     . 

ijliii,  half,  and  Arcyria. 
IIemitkiciiia  .... 

illj.1,  half,  and  Trichia. 


152 


92 


84 


'37 


'5° 


22 


200 


200 


223 


'I 

H 


ii   ■! 


I  -' 


234 


INDEX 


\.\ 


PAGE 

Heterotrichia 198 

irepos,  Other,  and  Trichia. 
Lachnohoi.is 186 

Xdxi'os,  woolly,    and  /3wXos,    a 

lump.     Gr. 
Lami'Rdderma 138 

\aiJLirp6%,  shining,  and  S4pfia,  as 

above.     Gr. 
Leocarits 80 

Xetos,  smooth,  and  Kapn6s,  fruit. 

Gr. 
Lepidoderma 106 

Xeirls,  a  scale,  and  bippxt,  a  cov- 
ering.    Gr. 
LiCEA 145 

Said    to   be    Latin  ;   licium,    a 

thrum,  a  girdle. 

LiNDBLADIA ,153 

A.  Lindhlad ;  personal. 
Lycogala :    .     .     .  174 

Xi5*cos,a  wolf,  and  7dXa,  milk.  Gr. 
MUCILAGO 82 

mticilago,  musty  juice.     Lat. 
Oliconkma 219 

(5X^705,  few,  and  vr\p.a,  a  thread. 

Gr. 
Ophiotheca 181 

d<^(s  a  serpent,  and  d^/ci;,  a  case. 

Gr. 


PAGB 

Orcadella 158 

dp/cd,  a  cask  (?).     Diminutive. 

Perich.ena 183 

TTept,  around,  and  xai^Wito  crack 
open.     Gr. 

Physarlm 25 

(pv(Ta,  a  bladder,  something  in- 
flated. 

Physarei.i,a 71 

Diminutive  of  Physarum, 

Plasmodiophora 16 

irXd(r/ia,  something  formed,  and 
<pop6s,  that  bears.     Gr, 

Protutrichia 199 

TrpiSros,  first,  and  Trichia. 

Reticularia 149 

retictduDi,  a  small  net.     Lat. 

Stemonitis 113 

Like  a  stamen. 

TiLMAnocHE 57 

rlXfia,  lint,  and  5ox^,  contain- 
ing.    Gr. 

Trichia 209 

Bpl^,  hair.     Gr. 

TUBIFERA 155 

tubus,  a  tube,  and  fero,  I  bear. 
Lat. 


GENERA  AND   SPECIES 


\V\ 


n. 


ft 


'     ;ii 


!   ti 


Mthaliopsis,  27. 

stcrcorifonnis  Zopf.,  27. 
ALTHALIUM. 

flnvum  Link.,  23. 

septicum  Fr.,  23. 

violaceum  Spreng.,  24. 
Amauroch.kte,  108. 

atra  (A.  and  S.)  Rost.,  100. 

fuliginosa  {^Sow^  JMacbr.,  109. 
ANGIORIDIUM,  28. 

sinuosuin  Grev.,  28. 
Arcyria,  189. 

alhiiia  Pers.,  187. 

I'iiolor,  B.  and  C,  197. 

cinerea  {Bull.)  Ptrs.,  196. 

decipiens  Pers.,  218. 


Arcyria  —  continued. 

denudata  (/..)  Sheld.,  195. 
digitata  (Sc/no.)  Post.,  197. 
ferruginea  Sautcr.,  194. 
Jlai'ii  Pers.,  191. 
gabriellcE  Rav.,  198. 
glohosa  Schw.,  187. 
incarnata  Pers.,  193. 
leucocephala  Pers.,  76. 
magna  Rex,  190. 
nodulosa  Machr.,  194. 
nutans  {Bull.)  Grev.,  191, 
arstedtii  Post,,  191. 
pomiformis  {Leers')  Post.,  197. 
punicea  Pers.,  195. 
stipata.  List.,  204. 


INDEX 


225 


PAGE 
,    158 

.    183 


25 

71 
16 

199 
149 

57 

209 
155 


Arcyria  —  continued. 

vitellina  Phil.,  192. 
Badhamia,  62. 

affinis  Kost.,  66. 

capsulifera  {Bull.)  Berk.,  68. 

decipiens  {Ctirt.)  Berk.,  63. 

decipicns  Berk.,  29,  63, 

liyalina  (Pers.)  Berk.,  68. 

lilacina  (/>-.)  Kost.,  65. 

macrocarpa  ( G'^.)  Rost.,  66. 

macrocarpa  Rost.,  69. 

nodulosa  Mass.,  51. 

orl)iculata  AV.r,  66. 
panicea  (/>-.)  /v'o^/".,  64. 
papaveracea  B.  and  A'.,  69. 
penetrans  Ckc.  and  Ell.,  127. 
rubiginosaCC7/t7'.)  Rost.,  70. 
subaquila  Jllae/ir.,  64. 
utricularis  (/^m//.)  /Av/i.,  67. 
varia  Mass.,  67,  68. 
verna  Fries,  65. 
Brei'ei  dia,  1 10. 

maxima  {Fr.)  Rost.,  no, 

fruticulosa  Fl.  Dan.,  18. 
Cai.one.ma,  20S. 

aureum  Morg.,  208. 
Cekatio.mvxa,  17. 

fruticulosa  {Muell.)  Machr.,  18. 

niucida  Schroet.,  18. 

poroides  (^.  and  S.)  Schroet.,  19. 
CERATWM,  19. 

hydnoides  A.  and  S.,  18. 
poroides  A.  and  S.,  19. 
Chondiuoderma,  see  Diderma,92. 
aculeatuin  Rex,  103. 
calcareiim  Rost.,  95. 
crustacetim  (Peck)  Berl.,  98. 
glohostini  (Pers.)  Rost.,  97. 
michelii  (Lib.)  Rost.,  loi. 
niveuiii  Rost.,  100. 
radiatum  (L.)  Rost.,  104. 
reticulatnm  Rest.,  95. 
roanense  Rex,  104. 
ru^osuni,  105. 
sauteri  Rost.,  103. 
stromatetim  (Link.)  Rost.,  97. 
testaceum  (Kchrad.)  Rest.,  100. 
trevelyani  (Grev.)  Rost.,  102. 


Cienkowskia,  79. 

reticulata  r.^.  rt«r/  6'.)  A'ojV.,  29,  So. 

xatithopns  Ditni.,  91. 
Clastodek.ma,  1 38. 

debaryana  Blytt.,  138. 
CLArHKOPTVCHW.M,  I52, 

rugiilosHin  (Wallr.)  Rost.,  152 
Clatiirus. 

adiiatus  Batsch,  193. 
denudatiis  L.,  195. 
rainosns  Retz.,  193. 
CLAI'ARIA,  18. 

liyssoides  Bull.,  18. 
pticcinia  Batsch,  18. 
CoMATKicirA,  123. 

a'qualis  Peck,  131. 
ca'spitosa  Sturg.,  124. 
crypta  Schw.,  127. 
ellisiana  (fke.)  E.  and  E.  127. 
ellisii  Morg,,  127. 
Jlaccida  (List.)  Morg.,  133. 
friesiana  (1)1!.)   Rost.,  128. 
gracilis  Wing,  132. 
irregularis  Rex,  126. 
lax  a  Rost.,  127. 
longa  Peck,  125. 
nigra  (/^,v.f.)  Schroet.,  128. 
ohtusata  (Preuss.)  List.,  129. 
persoonii  Rost.,  132. 
pulchella  {Bah.)  Rost.,  129. 
shiinekiana  Macbr.,  144. 
stemonitis  {Scop.)  .Slid.,  130. 
stt/ictcspitosa  Peck,  132. 
suksdortii  /t".  and  E.,  132. 
typhina  (I'ers.)  Rost.,  130. 
typhoides  (Bull.)  Rost.,  130. 
CORNUriA,  181. 

ci/rnwscissa  (Wallr.)  Rost.,  1S2. 
torightii  (B.  and  C.)  Rost.,  182. 
Craterilm,  73. 

•aureum  (.Schnm.)  Rost.,  73. 
citrinelluiii  List.,  37. 
concinnum  Rex,  78. 
confusum  .Mass.,  79. 
convivale  (Halsch)  ^'org.,  76. 
cyliiidricuni  Mass.,  77. 
leucocephalum  {Pers.)  Ditin.,  76,  77, 
lilucinuin  Mass.,  65. 


:%■ 


,1   .*    !| 


M 


226 


INDEX 


iv; 


,i;,. 


Mj    ■  if 


Crateri'M  —  continued, 

maydis  Morg.,  74. 

minimum  li.  and  C,  77. 

minutum  {Leci  s)  J'r.,  78. 

iiiutahilc  Fr.,  74. 

noi/ulosum  (C  and  B.)  Morg.,  51. 

olwi'iitmn  I'uck,  70. 

pcdtiHculatuin  Trent.,  78,  79. 

rubescens  Kex,  75. 

ru/iiginosHin  Mass.,  70. 

x'u/garc  Ditm.,  78. 
Criukakia,  159. 

argil  lacea  Pers.,  161. 

aurantiaca  Schrad.,  164. 

ceniua  Pers.,  172. 

cuprua  Morg.,  1 70. 

dictydioides  C-(v.  and  Balf.,  165. 

elegans  /?.  rt'wr/  C,  169. 

intricata  (St/irad.)  A'osf.,  165. 

languescens  A'ex,  170. 

macrocarpa  Sc/irad.,  161. 

microcarpa  {Sc/irad.)  Pers.,  167 

microscopica  B.  and  C,  163. 

minima  B.  and  C,  163. 

minutissima  Sc/no.,  162. 

purpurea  Schrad.,  169. 

pyriformis  Schnid.,  166. 

splendens  (Schrad.)  Pers.,  163. 

tenella  Sc/irad.,  167. 

violacea  /iVjr,  168. 

vulgaris  Schrad.,  164. 

vielleum  (B.  and  Br.)  Morg.,  47. 
ravcnclii  (B.  and  C.)  Morg.,  48. 
rufipes  (A.  and  S.)  Morg.,  50. 

Dermodium. 

conicum  (Pers.)  Rest.,  177. 
DiACHKA,  134. 

elegans  Fr.,  134, 

leucopoda  {Bull.)  Post.,  134. 

splendens  Peck,  135. 

thomasii  Pex,  136. 
Dianf:.ma,  180. 

harveyi  Pex,  180. 

DiCTYDI.KTIIALIUM,   1 52. 

plumbeum  (Sc/ui/n.)  List.,  152. 
DlCTYDIUM,  171, 

cancellatuni  {Batsc/i)  Macbr.,  172. 
cancellalum  purpureum  J/cici/".,  173. 


DiCTYDiu.M  —  continued. 

cernuum  Nees,  172. 

lougipes  Morg.,  172. 

niicrocarpon  Schrad.,  167. 

splendens  Schrad.,  163. 

umbilicatum  Schrad.,  172. 
DiDEKMA,  92. 

albescens  Phill.,  icx). 

brunneolum  Phill.,  32. 

cinereum  Morg.,  loi. 

citrinum  Peck,  37. 

congloiiierctuin  Fr.,  31. 

contextuin  Pers.,  31. 

crustaccum  Peck,  98. 

difforme  (Pers.)  Morg.,  96. 

eflusum  (Sclnv.)  Morg.,  94. 

floriforme  (Bull.)  Pers.,  105. 

geasteroiaes  Phill.,  102. 

globosum  Pers.,  97. 

globuliferuin  Fr.,  46. 

granulatum  (Schw.)  Fr.,  31. 

hemisphcricum  {Bull.)  Home.,  lOI. 

laciniatum  Phill.,  102. 

lyallii  Mass.,  99. 

inariic-wilsoni  Clinton,  ICXJ. 

minutum  (Schum.)  Fr.,  31. 

niveum  {Post.)  Macbr.,  100. 

obldiiguin  Fr.,  40. 

ochroleucuin  B.  and  C,  31. 

persoonii  Macbr.,  96. 

radiatuni  (L.)  Morg.,  104. 

reticulatum  Fr.,  80. 

reticulatuni  {Post.)  Morg.,  95. 

roanense  {Pex)  Macbr.,  104. 

rufipes  (A.  and  S.)  Fr.,  50. 

rugosum  {Pex)  Macbr.,  105. 

sauteri  {Post.)  Macbr.,  103. 

spumarioides  />.,  97. 

sqtiatuulosum  A.  and  S.,  87. 

stellare  {Sclirad.)  Pers.,  104. 

testaceum  {Schrad.)  Pers.,  99. 

trevelyani  {Grev.)  Fr.,  I02. 

vernicosum  Pers,,  81. 
DiDYMIUM,  84. 

anellus  Morg.,  85. 

chrysopepluiii  B.  and  C,  47. 

cinereum  (Batsch)  Fr.,  35. 

clavus  {A.  and  S.)  Pab.,  90. 

coniplanatum  {Batsch)  Post.,  85. 


;'ji 


INDEX 


227 


me,,  loi. 


,95- 
04. 

I. 

35- 

3- 

7- 
04. 

.99. 
2. 


30. 

yst.,  85. 


Tl>\i>\^\ivs\~  continued. 

connatum  Peck,  41. 

crustaceum  Fr.,  86. 

efftisum  Link.,  87. 

erythyinum  Berk.,  50. 

eximium  Peck,  92. 

fariiutceum  Schrad.,  88. 

gill  Ileum  Thill.,  41. 

gyroeephalum  Mont.,  58. 

heinispliericum  (Bull.)  Fr.,  loi. 

lateritium  Berk,  and  Rav.,  t,t^. 

iwlanopus  Fr.,  90. 

melanospermum  {Pers.)  Macbr.,  88. 

viellewn  15.  and  Br.,  47. 

mic/ielii  Lib.,  loi. 

microcarpon  (Fr.)  Rost.,  90,  91. 

minus  List.,  89. 

nigripes  Fr.,  91. 

nigripes  {Link)  Fr.,  91. 

obrusseum  B.  and  C,  52. 

polycepbalum  (Schw.)  Fr.,  57. 

polymorphum  Mont.,  57. 

proximwn  B.  and  C,  91. 

ravenelii  B.  and  C,  48. 

scrpula  Fr.,  85. 

squamulosum  {A.  and  S.)  Fr,,  87. 

stcllare  Schrad.,  104. 

teuerrimiim  B.  and  C,  52. 

testaeeum  Schrad.,  99. 

tigrinum  Schrad.,  106. 

xanthopus  {Ditin.)  Fr.,  91. 
DiPHTHERIVM. 

flavofusciim  Ehr.,  176. 
Enerthenema,  137. 

elegans  Bowm.,  137. 
papillata  {  ^ers.)  A'ost.,  .  37. 
Enteridium,  150. 

cinereiim  Schw.,  27. 
rozeanum  (A'ost.)  Wing.,  151. 
splendens  iJ/o;-^.,  151. 
FULIGO,  22. 

cinerea  (Schw.)  Morg.,  27. 
ellipsospora  List.,  27. 
muscorum  A.  and  S.,  24. 
ochracea  Peck,  24. 
ovata  {Sehaeff.\  Maebr.,  23. 
pluttibca  Schum.,  152. 
septiea  (L.)  Gmel.,  23. 
varians  Rost,,  23, 


FuLlGO  —  continued. 

varians  Sommf.,  23. 

violacea  Pers.,  24. 
UEMIARCYRI.\,  see  next,  20O. 
liEMlTRICUIA,  20O. 

ablata  Morg,,  206. 

clavata  {Pers.)  A'ost.,  206. 

funalis  Morg,,  206. 

inturta  List.,  205. 

karstenii  Rost,,  202. 

leiocarpa  Cuoke,  205. 

longifda  Rex,  205. 

montans  Morg.,  208. 

obscura,  Rex,  202, 

ovata  {Pers.)  Macbr.,  2C2. 

plumosa  (Morg.),  207. 

rubiformis  (Pers.)  Rost.,  203. 

serpula  {Scop.)  Post.,  20I. 

stipata  {Sc/nu.)  Post.,  204. 

stipitata  Mass.,  207, 

varneyi  Rex,  205. 

vesparium  {Batsc/i)  Macbr.,  203. 

•wigandii  Rost.,  202. 
Heterotrichia,  198. 

gabrielLie  {Raj.)  Mass.,  198. 
Is  ARIA. 

mucida  Pers.,  18. 
Lachnobolus,  186, 

congesta  Berk,  and  Br.,  189. 
glohosus  {Sclnu.)  Post.,  187. 
incarnatus    (A.    and   S.)    Schroet., 

188. 
occitlentalis  Macbr.,  188. 
L/\MPR(JDEK.\IA,  1 38. 

arcyrioides  (Sommf.)  Morg.,  140. 
arcyrioides  iridea  Cke,,  142. 
arcyrionema  Post.,  143. 
columl)inum  {Pers.)  Post.,  141. 
ellisiana  Cke.,  127. 
iridium  (Cke.)  Mass.,  142. 
minutum  Rost.,  144. 
physaroides  {A.  and  S.)  Post.,  139. 
rohusta  Ell.  and  Ev.,  140. 
sautcri  Post.,  140. 
scintillans  (B.  and  Br.)  List.,  142. 
violaceum  (Fr.)  Rost.,  143. 
Leangium. 

stipatuni  Schw.,  204. 
trevelyani  Grev.,  102. 


1  I 


i    „ 


'\.,' 


fc 


m 


m 


S  ! 


1/ 


t  '' 


228 

LEocARpns,  80, 

frafjilis  {Dicks.)  East.,  81. 

fragilis  Link.,  81. 

fulvus  Macln-.,  82. 
Lei'II)(U)I',rma,  106. 

stclltUtim  Mass.,  61. 

tigrinum  {Si/inui.)  Jiost.^  106. 
LiCliA,  145. 

biforis  Morg.,  147. 

njjfusn  Ehr.,  154. 

lindhcimeri,  Berk,,  147. 

minima  Fr.,  148. 

ochnicea  I'eck,  24. 

pusilla  Sc/irai/.,  148. 

rugnlosa  Wallr.,  152. 

stipitata  V>.  and  R.,  157. 

variabilis  Schraif.,  146. 
LiNDlil.ADiA,  153. 

effusa  {F.h>\)  A'os/.,  154. 

tiihulina  Fr.,  154. 
Lycucala,  174. 

atrttin  A.  and  S.,  109. 

conicum  /V;'5.,  177. 

contortum  Ditm.,  210, 

epidendrum  {Bit.v/).)  Fr,,  175. 

exiguum  Morg.,  178. 

flavofuscuni  {F/ir,)  Rost.,  176. 

viiniata  Pers.,  175, 

terrestre  Fries,  175. 
LYCOPERDON,  175. 

cinercum  Batsch,  34. 

contplniKitttm  Batsch,  85. 

corticale  Batsch,  185. 

epidendron  (Buxb.)  L.,  175. 

favogiiii'Hm  Batsch,  214. 

/'■agile  Dicks.,  81. 

fuliginosum  Sow.,  109. 

pusillum  riedw.,  218. 

radiatmn  L.,  104. 

vespariiim  Batsch,  203. 
MUCILACJO,  82. 

spongiosa  {Leyss,)  Morg.,  83. 
MUCOR, 

caucellatus  Batsch,  172. 

ovatits  Schaeff.,  23, 

pomiforinis  Leers,  197. 

septic  us  L.,  23. 

serpuld  Scop.,  2or. 

spongiosus  Leyss.,  83. 


INDEX 


MUCOR  —  continued. 

stemonilis  Scop.,  1 30. 
Olico.nkma,  219. 

brevilila  Peck,  221. 

flavidum  {Peck)  Mass.,  220. 

fulvum  Afori;.,  222. 

nitens  {Lt/>.)  A'ost.,  221. 
Ophiothkca,  181. 

chrysosperma  Cur  rev,  1 82. 

pallida  B.  and  C,  181. 

UDibriiia  B,  and  C,  1 81. 

vermicularis  {Sc/itv.)  Macbr,,  181. 

wrightii  B.  and  C,  182. 
Orcadei.i.a,  158. 

operculata  Wing.,  158. 
ORTHOTRICHIA,  1 38. 

microctphala  Wing.,  138. 
Peric'.i.ena,  182. 

cccspitosa  Peck,  154. 

corticalis  {Batsch)  Rost.,  1 85. 

depressa  Lib.,  183. 

flai'ida  Peck,  220. 

incarnata  (A.  and  S.)  Fr.,  189. 

irregularis  B.  and  C,  184. 

marginata  Sc/iw.,  186. 

pallida  (Schw.)  Rost.,  181. 

populina  Fr.,  185. 

quadrata  Macbr.,  184. 

vaporaria  Sc/iio.,  184. 
Physarella,  71. 

iiiirabilis  Peck,  72. 

oblonga  {B.  and  C.)  Morg.,  71. 
Physarum,  25. 

affine  Rost.,  41. 

albicans  Peck,  46. 

atrorubrtun  Peck,  49. 

atrum  Schw.,  36. 

aurantiacum  Pers.,  50. 

auriscalpium  Cke.,  38,  74. 

berkcleyi  (Rost.)  List.,  53. 

bivalve  Pers.,  28. 

brunneolum  Phill.,  32. 

crespitosum  SchziK,  37, 

calidris  List.,  51. 

cernuwn  Schum.,  41. 

cernuum  (Schum.)  Fr.,  59. 

chrysotrichum  B.  and  C,  2tZ' 

cinereum  {Batsch)  Pers.,  34. 

cinereum  Ell.  and  Ev.,  36. 


1!' 


INDEX 


22() 


0. 


br„  l8l. 


85. 
,  189. 


'.,  71. 


Physarl'm  —  continued, 
citnnellum  Peck,  37. 
citrinum  Scktim.,  56. 
clavus  A.  and  S.,  90. 
coltimbinum  Machr.,  46. 
columhiimm  Pers.,  141, 
compiulum  List.,  61. 
comprcssuiii  A.  and  S.,  41. 
conjiitcus  (Pers.)  Morg.,  41. 
conglumeratum  (/>-.)  J^osL,  31. 
conncxtim  (Link.)  Morg.,  41. 
conlextum  Pers.,  31. 
cttf>n/>js  B.  and  R.,  53. 
decipicns  Curt.,  63. 
didtrma  Kvst.,  30. 
didvirmoides  (^/i//.)  Rost.,  40. 
ditinari  Rost.,  33. 
effusum  Schw.,  94. 
eliipsosporum  A'oj/'.,  27. 
farloiuii  Rost.,  46. 
flavicomum  Berk.,  53. 
gali)euni  IViug.,  53. 
ghuicum  (Phill.)  Mass.,  41, 
gloljuliferum  (j9«//,)  p^rj.,  45. 
grujttin  Link.,  41. 
gyrosum  Rest.,  29. 
hyalinum  Pers.,  68. 
inequale  Peck,  33. 
lateritium  (Z?.  and  Br.)  Rost.,  33. 
leucophreum  />-.,  44, 
lettcoplueum  (Fr.)  Macbr.,  41. 
leucopus  Zi«/J.,  48. 
lilacinum  Yx.,  65. 
liz'iJum  Rost.,  40. 
lutetim  Pers.,  59, 
viacrocarpon  Cesati,  69. 
maculatum  Machr.,  47. 
melanospermiim  Pers.,  ""'. 
melleum  (^.  «««'  ^;-.)  j/^^j.,  47, 
microcarpon  Fr.,  90. 
viurinum  List.,  48. 
nefroideum  A'oj/.,  41. 
newtoni  Macbr,,  37. 
nicaraguense  Macbr.,  43. 
nigripes  Link.,  90. 
nodulosum  Qv.  and  Balf.,  51. 
nucleatum  i'l'^.r,  54. 
nutans  Pers.,  59. 
oblatum  Macbr.,  38. 


Physarim  —  continued. 

ol)russeum  (i9.  </;/</  C)  AW.,  52. 
ornatum  Peck,  38. 

paniceum  Fr,,  64. 
penetrale  AVu-,  55. 

petersii  \\.  and  C,  46,  50,  53. 

phillipsii  Jialf,,  41. 

physaroides  A.  anil  S.,  139. 

plumbeum  />■.,  35. 

polycephaluiii  Schw.,  57. 

polymorpltum  (Mont.)  Peck,  58. 

polymorp/ium  (Mont.)  Rost.,  41,58. 

polypnorphuin  Rost.,  52. 

psittacinum  Ditni.,  51. 

pulcherrimum  B.  and  R.,  49. 

pulcltripes  Peck,  50. 

raveneiii  (/?.  and  C.)  Mass.,  48. 

reticulatum  A.  and  S.,  29,  80. 

rostafinskii  Mass.,  31. 

ruliiginosum  Fries,  55. 

rubiginosum  Chev.,  70. 

rulipes  A.  and  S.,  50. 

scliumaclieri  Spreng.,  47 

scyp/ioides  Cke.  and  lialf.,  76. 

serpula  Morg.,  29. 

sinuosum  (/i/<//.)  IVeinm.,  28, 

striatum  Fries,  59. 
stromateum  Link,  97. 
sulphureutn  (A.  and  S.)  Sturg.,  38. 
tenerum  Rex,  52. 
thejoteum  /v-.,  36. 
tropicale  Macbr.,  45. 
utriculare  (Bull.)  Chev.,  67. 
variabile  /"^.r,  39. 
veriiiicularis  Schw.,  181. 
virescens  Ditm.,  7,'^. 
Plasmodioppiora,  16. 
brassica;  IVor.,  i6. 

Frotoderma. 

pusilla  Rost.,  148. 
Prototriciiia,  199. 

flagellifera  {B.  and  Br.)  Rost.,  199. 

Puccini  A,  18. 

byssoides  Gmel.,  18. 
ramosa,  etc.,  Mich.,  18, 
Reticularia,  149. 
alba  Bull.,  83. 
flavofusca  (Ehr.)  Fr.,  176. 
hemispherica  Bull,,  loi. 


I 


J     , 


{•) 


"■'ii'PHil'?J 


230 


INDEX 


•(• 


vi 


Reticui.aria  —  continued. 

lycoperdon  Z/m//.,  49. 

mtixima  Fr.,  no. 

sinttosa  Uull.,  28. 

splouicns  Morg.,  1 5 1. 
SCYPHIUM. 

ruhigmosum  (Chev.)  Rost.,  70. 
SlPHOTYCHlUM. 

casparyi  Rost.,  157. 
SPH/EKOCARPUS. 

albus  Hull.,  58. 

aurantius  Hull.,  59. 

capsulifer  Hull.,  68. 

chrysospermm  Bull.,  214. 

cylindricus  Hull.,  156. 

floriforiiiis  Hull.,  105. 

fragilis  Sowb.,  216. 

globuUfcrits  Hull.,  45. 

/«/<'«.f  Hull,  59. 

utricularis  Bull.,  67. 

viridis  Hull.,  59. 
SPUMARIA,  82. 

fl/A/  (Hull.)  DC,  83. 

didermoides  (Ach.)  Pers.,  40. 

granuliita  Schum.,  31. 

lichenifonnis  Schw.,  40. 

minuta  Schum.,  31. 

mucilago  Pers.,  83. 
Stemonitis,  113. 

alba  (Hull.)  Gmel.,  59. 

argillacea  (Pers.)  Gmel.,  161. 

axifera  (Bull.)  Macbr.,  120. 

bauerlinii  Mass.,  119. 

botrytis  (Pers.)  Gmel.,  216. 

carolinensis  Macbr.,  122. 

castilicnsis  Macbr.,  117. 

confluens  Cke,  and  Ell.,  1 14. 

diciyospora  Rost.,  117. 

digitata  Schw.,  197. 

fenestrata  Rex,  119. 

ferruginea  Elir.,  I2t'. 

ferritginosa  Batsch,  156. 

fricsiana  DB.,  128. 

fusca  {Rot/i.)  Rost.,  115. 

herbatica  Peck,  120. 

leucicephala  (Pers.)  Gmel.,  76. 

maxima  Sclnv.,  116. 

microspora  List.,  121. 

morgani  Peck,  118. 


Ste.monitis  —  continued. 

nigra  Pers.,  128. 

nigrescens  Rex,  n6. 

ovata  nigra  Pers.,  128. 

pallida  IVing.,  123. 

papillata  Pers.,  137. 

ptikhella  Bab.,  129. 

sciiitillans  B.  and  Br.,  142. 

smithii  Macbr,,  121. 

splendens  Rost.,  118. 

splendens  var.  confluens  List.,  1 14. 

tenerrima  B.  ami  C,  129. 

tenerrima  Curt.,  122,  129. 

typhi na  Pers.,  130. 

typltina  Wig.,  130. 

typhoides  (Bull.)  DC,  130. 

t/rtr/rt  (Pers.)  Gmel.,  212. 

violacea  Fr.,  143. 

virginiensis  AVjt,  117. 

viridis  (Hull.)  Gmel.,  59. 

webberi  /vV.r,  120. 
TiLMADOCHE,  57. 

alba  (^m//.)  J/rtf(!>r.,  58. 
cernua  (Schum.)  Fr.,  59. 
colwnbina  (H.  and  C.)  Rost.,  61. 
compacta  Wing.,  61. 
gyrocephala  (Mont.)  Rost.,  58. 
hians  Rost.,  72. 
ntutabilis  Rost.,  60. 
nutans  (Pers.)  Rost.,  59. 
oblonga  (B.  and  C)  Rost.,  71. 
polycephala  (Sc/iui.)  Macbr.,  57. 
viridis  {Bull.)  Sacc,  59,  60. 
TRE.MELLA,  18. 

hydnoides  Jacq.,  18. 

Trichamphora,  70. 

oblonga  H.  and  C,  71. 
Trichia,  209. 

abietina  Wig.,  202. 

abrupta  Cke.,  213. 

ryi^«/5  DB.,  213. 

andersoni  Rex,  211. 

aurea  Schum.,  73. 

axifera  Bull.,  120. 

botrjtis  Pers.,  216. 

cernua  Schum.,  59. 

chrysosperma  (Bull.)  Rost.,  214, 

cinerea  Bull.,  196. 

circumscissa  Wallr.,  183. 


INDEX 


231 


Trichia  —  continued, 
clavata  Pers.,  206. 
contorta  {Ditm.)  Host.,  210. 
decipiens  {Ptrs.)  Macbr.,  218. 
erecta  Kex,  218. 
fallax  I'ers.,  218. 
favuginea  {Batsch)  Pers,,  214. 
flagfllifcr  1$.  and  Ur.,  199. 
fragilis  (Sowb.)  Rost.,  2l6. 
inconspicua  Rost.,  210. 
iowcnsis  Macbr, ^  211. 
jackii  Host.,  213. 
laleritia  Lev.,  216. 
leucopodia  Bull.,  134. 
«a«rt  Mass.,  203. 
nigripes  Pers.,  212, 
nitens  Lib.,  221. 
nutans  Bull.,  191. 
oz/a/rt  Pers.,  202. 
persimiiis  Karst.,  213. 
proximella  Karst.,  213. 


Trichia  —  continued, 

pulchelia  Kex,  215. 

pustlla  Schroet.,  221. 

pyrijormis  Vx.,  2 1 6. 

remjormis  Peck,  211. 

rubiformis  Pers.,  203. 

scabra  /'w/.,  2IJ. 

serpuUi  (Scop.)  Pers.,  20I. 

subfusca  Kex,  217. 

typhoides  Bull.,  130. 

varia  {Pers.)  Post,,  212. 

verrucosa  Berk,,  215. 
Tlbifera,  155. 

casparyi  (Post.)  Macbr.,  157. 

ferruginosa  {Batsch)  Macbr.,  156. 

stipitata  (^.  and  P.)  Macbr.,  157. 

Tubulin  A,  155. 

cylindrica  (Bull.)  DC,  156. 
fragiformis  (Pers.)  List.,  156. 
stipitata  (B.  and  R.)  Rost.,  157. 


I' 


V  i- 


V    / 


i!    :i  i 


t: 


<>! 


.>  ■      II  i 


If  :l 


!'  L  A  T  ]l  S 


I"    IM.I  >IH.\IK 


NORTH  AMHRICAN  SIJMK-MOUI.DS 


NniK.  -  I'latcs  I..  II..  I\-.,  VI..  VII..  \1II..  IX..  x.,  ;„•,.  j.y 
Miss  .M.AKv  ]'.  .Macdkii.k:  I'latrs  V..  XL.  XII..  arc-  hy  .Miss 
liATTiK  J.  SriMMKi,:  I'latcs  XIII..  XIV..  X\-..  X\I..  \\l\., 
are  l,y  Miss  I!i;i<i  ii.v  K.  I.im.kk  ;  i-jatL-  III.  is  tlie  joint  u.,ik 
of  .Mi.s!5i:s  LiNDKK  and  .M.\(  iskidk. 


EXI'LANATION    OF    I'LAI  i:    I 


■;l? 


Ill: 


F 

1  ^ .    —  . 

F 

lU'.    2  (/. 

F 

iy.    2  /v. 

/■'///<•/■/(///////  sfilciuicv.<  Morn.,  p.  151. 

V'v^.  I.        ,l'".tlialiimi,  natural  si/e. 

Fi;^.  I  (t-     Spon;  of  tliL'  saiiu'  spucit's.   :■'    1400. 

Fi.^.  I  /'.     Ca|)illiliuni  of  the  ^-aiiic  spccifs.    ■.   420. 

niitydiu-lliiiliiiiii  /'liiiiilh'iiiii  (l''r. )  Kost..  p.  152. 

.ICtlialiuin.  natural  si/(j. 

Sp(iranL(ia  and  spores,   x   50  (alter  Schioetcr). 

I'ersistenl  apices  of  the  pericha. 

l.iHil!'hiiUii  ([[J'tisci  (IChr.  )  Rost..  p.  154. 

A  .^roup  of  s|)oran,<;ia.   x   30. 
a.      A  single  spore,   x    1400. 

'ruhil'i)\i  l\'rniL;/ii(Kui  (Uatseh)  Ahiehr..  |).  156. 

Fi<;'.  4.         A  .Ljroup  of  sporangia,  x   5. 

Se^  also  I'hite  \'ll..  Fi.-.  S. 

Cribraiia  1//1  /viin'/ih's  L'ke.  and  Mail..  [).  lA^, 

FIlj.  5.         Three  sporangia,   x    15. 

I-'ii;-.  5  (^      A  single  sporangium,  to  sliow  reticulate  thiekeiiiuL 

Fi,n'.  1  />■      A  spore,   x   1400. 

J^ii/V(i//i//i  laiiicUiihiin  (llatsch)  Maelir..  p.  172, 


Fi- 
Fiii 


s-  J 


Fi,ii;.  ^.        Sporangium,   x   30. 

Fis.';.  6f/.     A  jjart  of  llie  peridial  wall,  see 


n  from  within,   ^    84. 


Ci'i'atioiii  'Xii  fnitii'itlosa  (Muell.)  Maelir..  ]). 


hree 


>oriterous  iiillars, 


FiK-  7- 

Fiu;.  "]  a.     'rip  of  a  sini;ie  pillar,   x   .S4. 


lut  40. 


Hi'iiiilricliia  slipata  (Sehw.)  .Machr..  |).  204. 
Sporani^ia.   x  6. 


Fit;'.  <S(?.      The  eapillitium  of  the  same  species. 
Fii;.  S /'.      .A.  siiiL^le  sjjore.   X    looo. 


/3^ 


234 


60 


PLATE    I 


(^0 


■^ '/'Mm  ^ 


<   1 


235 


EXPLANATION    OF    I'LATE    II 


Periclnvtia  corticalis  (I5;itscli)  Kost.,  p.  185. 


Fiu;.  I. 
W^.  I  a. 
Vv^.  I  b. 


S|)()ranii;ia,   x    10. 


A  si  Hi 


u  spore,  as  it  111  section,   x  900. 


Tlic  ca])iilitial  tliread.   x   750. 


A5' 


I.aiinioboliis  (Hiideiitalis  Machr..  p.  188. 

Fi^.  2.        Till'  sporangia.    •    S. 

V\^.  2a.     A  portion  ot"  the  capillitium.  x   750. 

Fig.  2/'.      Spores,  x  750. 


(>' 


;.  I 


Fi.ii-  3- 
Eig.  3  "■ 


Fig.  4. 
Fig.  4(7. 


Fig.  5  a. 


.■li\yna  ciiierca  (liiill.)  I'ers.,  ]>.  196. 

The  expaiide'i  tViictitications.  x   5. 
'I'ip  of  a  single  capillitium  mass,   x  40. 

Laclufjb  >lits  oicideiitalis  .Machr..  ]).  18S. 


A  cluster  of  snonuii'ia. 


cvliiuinc  tvne. 


Capillitium.  x  740;   to  show  characteristic  surface  of  the  threads. 

Arcyria  di'iiHiiatii  (Linn.)  Feis..  ji.  i(;5. 
Sporangia,  two  expanded,  one  still  closed,   x    ::o. 


A  part  of  the  canillit 


mm  ot  the  same  species,   x   750. 


\  •)'■ 


\S' 


M 


n.k 


] 


'if      Vi    ( 


rcvrid  II 


it/iiiis  (lUill.)  Orev.,  [j.  191, 


Fig.  6. 
Fig.  ()  (I. 
Fig   6  b. 

Fig.  7. 
Fig.  7 ,/. 
Fig.  7  b. 

Fig.  8. 
Figs.  8  a 


ICvpanded  capillitium.  etc..  x    10. 

Capillitium.   x   740. 

A  [)iece  t)''  the  cai)illitium  thread,   x    1400. 


OphiotlL 


t'Ltl   7i77, 


'/////  r. 


ami  C  ]).  18: 


A  single  sporangium,  x   8. 


i\  not 


le  of  the  cai)illitial  thread,   x   750. 


A  spore,   x   "50. 

OliLj^dno/hJ  iiittiis  (Lib.)  Rost.,  ]i.  221. 

.A  single  elater.  x   750. 
and  8/;.     .Spores,  x    1000. 


'  i    ,  ii 


23f) 


;■  \ 


PLATE    I] 


r- 


breads. 


.8t 


*  -J 


u 


8 


''     «'Cc?k 


i:^ 


^     ^^-^  ^'^  ^^^^  ^^ 


\'-' 


^ 


71    yn.b"»,\  ■'     -        /, 


I     1     >    f 


'1  Jli^^ 


*^  ,^ 


■;  w 


■■e. 


Jl 


V 


5  a 


::13^-^' 


/ 


k-y 


tv-..   ._ 


6     f:;*-*. 


J 1 


At 

^•'6  1, 


\  K 


a^ 


jl    . 
1  ? 


1 1 

t 


':> 


>T  Hi 


Vim  it'' 


i;.\i'L.\.\A'ri().\  OK  I'l.Ari':  iii 


Fi. 


Heinitricliia  (la^uitn  (Pcrs.)  Rost..  p.  zoCt. 

I.        Tlircu  sporaiii;!;!.  one  closL'd.   x  iS. 
1  /'.      A  siii^k'  spore,   x   1400. 

J IciiiitriiJtia  'i'cspariiiDi  (ISatsch)  .Machr..  p.  203. 

\'^.  2.        Tip  of  tliu  c'lalcr  or  ta])illitial  tliruad.   ;■:    1400. 
i^:;.  2^;.      A  siniilc  spore,   x    1400. 

T)-i(.Iiia  io-i.'c>isis  .Machr..  p.  211. 

"v^.  3.        .\  clustri- of  sporangia,   x   5. 

ii;.  3  (^     Tip  of  a  l)raiicliiii,Lj  t-latcr.  x   750. 

i.i;'.  3/'.      A  siii^lL'  spore.    -    750. 

Scu  also  riatc  .\..  V'v^.  5. 

JlciJiilrit  ilia  srrp.ihi  Scop.,  p.  201. 

'i.H'.  4.         A  plasnivxliocar],).    <   3. 
i^.  4f/.     .\  siii;iii' s])orL',    <    1400. 
i.i;.  4/'.      All  eiatt-r-tip.  x    1400. 

'rrt.liia  iihoiispii  !ta  Rost..  p.  210. 
"^'^.  5.        .\  cUi-^tcr  of  si)oraii,nia.   y   12. 
ii;.  51/.     Ti|)  of  an  L'Iatci\   x    1400. 
A  siuLilc  sjxirc,   x   l^o. 

Crdfcr;:///!  iiinVilis  Mor/j;..  ]).  74. 

.A  sin^k-  -])oranu;:iini.    ■    20;  shows  calycnlus. 
')(/.     A  sin,!j,k:  s[)orc.   -•    1000. 

Pliyuintiii  lUtriscttl fuiiiii  (Cke.  )  Lister,  p.  38. 

7.  .\  single  spoian^iuin.   :•    20:  a  New  N'ork  specimen. 
"]  a .     .\  siu'^le  spoie.   x    1000. 

.h(\'r/i!  iiuaniittii  luhliihs,)  Machr..  p.  194. 

8.  L'apillitial  thread.    ■    (200. 


I  I' 


V'.  6 


V'. 


II 

-  U 


ri 


1  'i 


238 


PLATE    H! 


2U; 


39 


EXPLANATION    OK    I'l.A'IK    IV 


i^:>v 


!       '!; 


Fig. 
Fig. 


Fijr. 

Fi.i;. 
Fiji. 


Fig. 


Fi 


!5' 


Fig. 


Fig. 


Fi 
Im 
Fi- 


I. 

I  t/. 

I  /'. 
I  c. 


3- 

3"- 


Trichiii  pcrsiiiiilis  Karst.,  p.  2(3. 

Var.  inter  media,  x  ahout  6. 

Spore  of  saiiiL'  species,   x    1400. 

A  second  si)oi"t'  to  show  varying  cpispoiic  network. 

Tip  of  elater,  sliows  vertical  connecting  hands. 

Tiic/iia  c/eeipieiis  (Pcrs.)  ^hxchr.,  p.  218. 
Sporangia,  x  ahout  8. 
A  spore  of  tiie  same  species,   x    1400. 
and  2  (.■.     Eiaters  of  tile  same  species,   x  aljont  225. 

Trieliia  7'aria  (I'ers.)  Rost.,  p.  212. 
S])orangia,  x  ahout  8. 
(\  sjjore  of  the  same  species,  x    1000. 
•\n  ehiter  of  tlie  .same  species,   x   750. 


4- 
4/;. 


5- 
5"- 


■  •> 


h. 


i"-. 


6. 


,i  I'd 


V 

I"" 

(^a 

V 

Gf> 

V 

'K- 

6e 

V 

'ft- 

6, 1 

Trieliia  seabra  Ro>t.,  p.  213. 
Sporangia,  x  ai)out  8. 

A  single  spore  of  the  same  species,   x    1400. 
An  elater-tip  of  th(?  same,  x    1400. 

I'riehia /(WOi^iiiea  (liatsch)  Pers.,  j).  214. 

.Sporangia,   x  ahout  8. 

A  single  spore  of  the  same,   x   1400. 

A  single  elater-tip  of  the  same,   x    1400. 

Trieliia  persiiiiilis  Karst.,  var.  abnipta  Cko..  j).  214. 

An  elaler-tip,  x  1400.     It  will  be  noticed  tliat  the  spirals  arc  con- 
nected hv  vertical  bars. 

A  single  s|)()re  of  the  same  variety,  x    1400. 

A  single  spore,  from  the  same  sporangium  as  (^a. 

Trieliia  persiiiiilis.  a  single  spore,   x    1400. 

Tip  of  an  elater  from  the  same,  x    1400. 


M'     ' 


v\ 


111 


240 


PLATE    IV 


tjK^'^3h 


.^■. 


-->^' 


\  • 


i: 


'  I 


*;  V, 


241 


i',\iM..\xAii().\  oi'  ri.Aii:  V 


I ) 


''I  ! 


|.i  I 


^lU-\> 


l.anifyrodt'niiit  ai\yiii>iiciJia  Rust.,  p.  1.1.3. 

Fi^.  I.        A  siimle  .si)()raii,niiim  seen  as  il  in  section,  x  40. 
l'"ij;.  I  a.     A  simple  spore,  x    1400. 

I.anipiodcniia  Siiiitillaim  (I>erk.  and  lir.)  List.,  p.  142. 

V'v^.  2.        A  sinj^le  sporaniriimi  seen  as  in  section,   x  40. 
l'"\<^.2(!.     A  sinjfle  sjjore,   x    1400. 

l-jurtliciiciiid  ^iipilhitiiiii  (I'ers.)  Rost..  p.  137. 
Fi,t;.  3.        An  evpanded.  hlown-ont  s]i()rani;iuni.   x   25. 

I.tuiiprihicniuj  ,iv^///(77  i-Jost..  p.  140. 

Fii^.  4.        A  sporaniiium  seen  as  in  section,   x  20. 
Fig.  4^^     A  single  sjiore.   x    1000. 

Coiiiiityii  liii  hixti  Rost..  ]).  127. 
Fig.  5.        A  si)oraiigiuni  seen  as  if  in  section,  x  40. 
Fig.  5  f?.     A  single  spore,   x   2000. 

Diachca  tlioiiiasii  Rex.  p.  136. 

Fig.  T).        Three  sporangia  magnified  about  15  times. 
Fig.  (ui .     A  single  spore  ol  the  same  s])ecies.   x   800. 

Ih-:'fcldia  iiiaxiiiia  (Fries)  Rost..  p.  110. 

Fig.  7.        A  grou])  of  si)orangia.  showing  columella' :    x   5. 
Fig.  "] a.     Capillitial  threads  of  the  same  species,   x   300. 
Fig.  7 /'.     S|)ore  of  the  same  species,  x    1500. 

.liiiaiii'ihlurtr  fiilii:;iitosa  (Smvh.)  .Machr..  ji.  109. 

P^ig.  cS.         A  hit  of  so-calK'd  capillitium.   x   300. 
Fig.  8r/.     A  single  spore  magnilied  about  1000  times. 


,1  ■ 


W 


24: 


-.,.),.t>»*»- 


PLATE    V 


•/5J. 


■;■  ^t 


243 


KM'LANATlo.N    ul    I'l, A  I  K    VI 


1 


".    IJ! 


Im;-.  I  a. 
Fiji.  I  /'. 


1' Itf.  2  (f. 


Fi.ij.  3  "• 
l*'i,i;.  3  /'• 

l-'i.i;^-  3< 


Fis.  4. 
Fi.ii;.  4,?. 
Fig.  4/;. 


Fi,-.  5. 
Fi,i>-.  5  ,/. 

I'"'K-  5  '''• 


CoiiuUriJiii  stciii,iiiiti\  (Scop.)  Slifkl.,  |)    130. 
,\  .i;r()U|)  ol  .s|)()iaiit;ia,   ^    5. 
A  siiiiilf  s|)(iiv,   X    1600. 
I'il)  ot  tlic  coluMK'lla  with  its  i)raiiche.s,  x  50. 

Ct>/iitiirh/iii  /I'/Zi^i/  IVck.  |).  1^5. 

A  simple  oinpty  sporanjiium,   x  6. 

A  part  of  the  saniu  taUcii  near  the  apex.    •    60. 

A  spore.   X    1400. 

L'oiiKitriJia  pcrsooiiii  Host.,  j).  132. 

A  simple  sporangium.    ■    10. 
The  cohimelhi  and  eapiilitium.        60. 
A  simple  spore,  x    1600. 
and  3 //.     Sporangia  to  which  the  peridiuin  still  adiieres,  althougii  in 
3  t  in  shreds. 

SIciiioiiilis  nidxiinti  Sehw.,  \).  1 16. 

A  frrou])  of  s])oran<,na.  x  3. 

A  part  of  the  cokuiulla  and  capilhtinni.   x  60. 

A  single  spore,    x    1400. 

Stciiioniti^  a.vifera  (lUill.)  Matl)r..  p.  120. 

.\  t^roup  of  sjjoran^ia.    ■    3. 

A  siniiK'  spore,   x    1400. 

A  part  of  the  eapiihtium  with  cohnneihi.   x  60. 

S/eiji  >ii,. /s  iiio)  ciiiii  Feciv.  p.  1 18. 


m 


Fii^.  6.        A  group  of  sporangia,  x  3. 

Figs.  6(?  and  6(-.     .Single  spores,  the  litter  x    1400. 

Fig.  (^l>.     A  i)art  of  tlie  colinnella  and  branches,   x   60. 

Fig.  7.        A  shorter  variety  of  tlie  same  species  witli  coarser  meshes  in  ca))!!- 

litiuni.   X   3. 
Fig.  "]  a.     A  ixut  of  the  columella  ami  net.   \   60. 


244 


PLATE    VI 


•  I  .* 


245 


i.xri.ANAi  i()\  (»i'  ri.Aii':  \ii 


!•■ 


I- 


-.   2,1. 


lUthlud  .\/>lrii(/i'ii\  I't'ck.  |».  135. 

SpDraiiyi.i  and  liypotliallus.  x  25. 

(.  apilliliiim.        50. 

Spores.    •    ijoo. 

roilioii  of  llic  capillitium,  x    150. 

Didyiiiutiii  iiignpcs  Fr.,  [>.  yo, 

SiJoraiii^ia.  ■  30. 
A  spoil',  -  1400. 
Calcareous  crystals  iVoin  the  pi-ridial  wall,  x  750. 

PiJyiiiiiiin  iiiclaiuispcniniiit  (Curs.)  Matbr..  p.  88. 

Sporaiiijia,  x    10. 

A  single  spori'.   x  ahoiit  icoo. 

Didcnihi  tcsttuciiiii  (Sclirad.)  I'crs  .  p.  (J9. 


I''ii,^  4.        Si)nraii,u,ia  :  the  lirsl  exhihitin;;  the  two  iJi'iichal  w.dls  and  the  spore- 


mass.   X    10. 


V'v^.  ^    .     Sp()r( 


yqo. 


l'"i,i;.  4/1.     Lai)initial  threads,  x   750. 

niilcrma  \:;l'>l'osiiiii  Pers..  p.  97. 

.Sporan'j,ia :  tlie  liist  with  the  outer  perithuni  Ijroken  away,   X   10, 
A  single  spore,   x  750. 

Miuilay^o  spoiii^iosa  (Leyss.)  Moru;..  ]).  83. 
An  a'thahuin.  Ijorne  on  a  jirass-sleni,  natural  si/e. 


V 

.^■■ 

5- 

V 

,^- 

5" 

Y 

6. 

V 
V 

11' 

A  si 


)or 


e,  X   750. 


Capillitium.  with  surface  calcareous  crystals,   x  750. 

Piiicniia  cnistacciiiii  l'eel<.  p.  98. 

Fij;.  7.        A  mass  of  clustered  sporani^ia.  to  siiow  habit  of  a,;;gre,u;ation,  natu- 
ral size. 

'I'libifcra  /'rrnn^iiidsu  (Hatsch)  Macbr.,  j).  156. 
Fii^.  8.        A  single  spore,   x    1400. 


246 


■  i^f 


PLATE    VII 


Q 


Jk-. 


;(■ 


247 


Exi'LANAiiox  L)[-  ri.Air:  \III 


■Ml'': 


!•■ 


nidt'iina  lli>)il'<>iiii,'  {  lliill.)  Fcrs..  p.  105. 

'^.  I.         S|)oiaii^ia  dl   various  ai;fs.   x    15. 
^.  I  (I.      Spiiic  (it   till'  saiiiL'  spc'L'ii.'s.    -    1000. 
L!.   1  /'.     A  cauillilial  tliruad.  x    1000. 


'I'iliihuihhc  pi^lyccplhila  (Srhw.)  .MacKr..  p.  57. 

V'v^-  1.        'I'lic  sporangia,   x    10. 
I''in.  2  a.     Spoix's.    ■    750. 
Kig.  2  /i.     Capillitiuni.    •    750. 

/.(•iHiirp//s  /'rdi^/l/s  (Dicks.)  I\i)st..  |).  Si. 

ri.o;.  3.        Spoian^ia.   :■    6. 

Fi,y;.  3^/.     A  iiioup  dl"  spoiaiinia.  natural  si/.c.  to  sliow  habit. 

'''f^-3''''-     A  sini;K' spore.    <    1800. 

ritysarclln  ohloih^it  (  !>.  ami  C.)  .Mori;..  ]).  71. 

Ki,H'.  4-         A  single  sporaui;iuui.    ■;   S. 

I''i,>4"s.  4^?  and  4/'.      Capillitiuni  ami  spoi'c  rcsprctiv  elw   x   900. 

Cratt-riiiiii  liiti'iHi'f^lutliiiii  (IV-is.)  Ditniar.  p.  71. 
l''iy;.   5-         Sp()ran;;ia.  the  tiist  closed.    ^    10. 

riiYsanini  si,niosiiiii  (iiull.)  W'einini..  [>.  159. 
Y'vg.  6.        Pla.smodiocaip.  natural  size;  6(^   x   4. 

Pliysantiii  7'irrsci'iis  Ditniai'.  p.  33. 

V\)X,.  7.        ("iToups  of  sporangia,   x   3  and    k   8. 
Fig.  "J  (I.     Spores,   x   /50. 


I" 


7'/////iufh'//r  '•<wn'(/i\-  (iiull.)  Sacc.  j).  59. 

g.  8.         .A  single  sporangium.    -    25  :   8  (^  revense. 
g.  8/'.     'I'hc  same  altei' spoi-e-dispiTsal. 
g.  8(.      Capillitiuni,    ■    750. 


i       i 


248 


PLATE    VIII 


^vsi! 


^  if-  h    n 


.^    4 


^ppi^-^^. . 


-jC**^ 


2.|'; 


KXI'I.AXA'I'ION    OF    I'LATI':    IX 


'<]'  i 


/i"',;: 


Iti 


I  I  I 


PJiysiiruiii  (f/(fi'n/ti>iif('s  (Atli.)  Kosi..  p.  40 

Fijj;.  I.        Sporaiii^ia.  x   15. 

Fi.;^.  I  (J.     ,\  silicic  sporangium  open  ;  shows  calcareous  capilliliuni. 

Fi^.  I  I).     Spoivs.  X  (joo. 

Pltysannii  iicfroidriiiii  l\ost  .  p.  41. 

I"ii^.  2.        A  cluster  of  sporangia,   x    15. 
Fi;;'.  2(/.     A  single  s|)oran;;iuni  open,   x    15. 
Fi,i:;.  2/'.      Spores,   x   900. 

See  also  Plate  X\'..  i'"i,;;s.  2,  2  a. 

Pliysaniii!  lOiittwtiiin  I'ers  ,  p.  31. 

l'"!,!^.  3.         A  ^I'oup  of  sporangia,    ■    15. 
Fij;.  3r?.     Sjjores  of  the  same,   x  600. 

PliysavKDi  ciihTciini  (Ikitsch)  Pel's  ,  |).  34. 

Fij;'.  4.  A  uroup  of  sporangia.    ■:  4. 

Fit^.  4r/'.  A  single  sporangium,   x   20. 

Fii;.  4/'.  Ca[)illitium  of  the  same,   x   24c. 

F'ig.  4('.  Sjiores,  x  450. 

Pliysai-iiiii  I'ircsiciis.  var.  nilois  List.,  p.  34. 

F'^i;;-.  5.         Sporant^ia.   x   5. 

Fi.i,^  5  (/.      Sjiore  ot'  the  same  species,   x   450. 

Fig.  5 /^      Capillitium  of  the  same,  x   240. 

P/iysaniiii  scif^ula  Morg..  p.  29. 

Fig.  6.        Plasmodiocarps.  about  natural  si/e. 

Fig.  Gti.     A  hit  of  the  plasmocliocarp.  showing  structure,  X  ^. 

Fig.  6/'.      A  si)ore  of  the  same  species,   x    1400. 

Pliysanini  IciiiOpiix  Link.,  p.  48. 

F'ig.  7.        A  single  sporangium,   x    15. 

Fig.  "]  ti .     A  spore  ol   the  same  species,   x  900. 

l-'ig.  -]  b.      A  fragment  of  the  capillitium. 


250 


PLATE    IX 


.  'S^^ 

1-; 

^W 

X 

' 

7 

7h    i7/ 

%^- 

H 

1*^ 

7,, 

^ 

a 

b 

25' 


i 


i;i 


;.    I  I/. 

'■  1 '  • 


;■.  2  ir. 
■ .  2  /'. 


;-3/'- 


Kxri.AXAi'io.x  i)i'  ri.Aii':  \ 


ruullttiiiiiii  nihil' iiiosa  (Ciiov.)  Rdsl.,  p.  70. 
A  .urouj)  of  spDran^iii.   :<    5. 

Two  spiiraii;;!.!.  saniL'  species,  x  18,  to  show  persisliiii;  ca]jillitiuni. 
C'apillitium  iV.i^nniit.    ■    240. 
Spore  ot   the  same  species,   ;<:   750. 

/■'/iI/l^i>  mui/cr  (ScliaeH.  )  Machr..  p.  23. 
All  athaliiim.  natui'al  si/.e. 
/\  section  ol   tile  same,    ■     10. 
A  spore  of  the  same.    -;   750. 

Plivxaniiii  rllifyuK^pni-i'ii!  i\ost..  p.  27. 

An  a'tlialium  l)onie  upon  a  lilade  of  ^rass,  natui'al  size. 
C'apillitial  fragment  iVoin  tlie  same  specimen.    ■'   450. 
Spores  of  tlie  same.    ■    alxuil  750. 

Diilvmiiiiii  III  I  mis  List.,  p.  S9. 

.A  siniik'  sporangium.    •'   25. 

'1  lie  capillitium  and  lVaL;nieiU  ol   the  ])eri(lium  of  the  same  species, 


vSo. 


Kii;.  4/'.      \  spore  of  the  same  s|)ecies.   x    I 


000. 


'J'n\/u't!  ii'ii't'iisis  Matln'..  p.  21  r. 


fi--.  ;. 


Tin  of  an  elat 


er.   '■<    1400. 


-.  (ui. 


n-.  7. 

Ki--.  7,1. 


See  also  I 'late  \'..  I'i-'.  4. 

r<(uiliivii!a  fuipa-'CViU'ca  W.  and  i\..  p.  69. 

.Sporangia,  a  cluster.   >    8. 

A  clusU'r  of  s|)or(.'s.   x   400. 

A  sinnle  spore  of  the  same,   x    1400. 

Rctiiiilaria  Iviiiprri/iui  iUill..  [i.  [49. 

A  fiannieiit  of  the  capillitium,    ■    240. 

A  single  spore  of  the  same  sjiecies,   x    1400. 


252 


PLATE    X 


253 


7) 

i 


i  P\ 


^\\ 


1  <!l 

1.  ■ 


I 


!(■' 


KXI'I.AXATIO.X    OK    I'LAl'l-:    XI 


hi 


Fi-. 
Fi-. 


Fi> 


Fig. 

5- 

Fig. 

6. 

Fig. 

7- 

Fiii. 

S. 

Fi.L 

Fit 


Coinatriilu!  ii/ii'ia  I'rrs..  p.  128. 

1.  A  grou[j  uf  sixjrangia.   x    10. 

2.  A  single  sporangium  as  in  scclion,   x  60. 

3.  A  single  sjjoi'e,   x    1600. 

S/i'/ii(iiii//s  coiijliicns  VA\.  and  Cke.,  p.  1  14. 

4.  A  giDup  of  sporangia,   x    10. 

4(?.     A  thread  of  ca|)illitiinn  with  adliering  disk,   x   30. 
A  spoi'e  of  tlie  same,  x   2000. 

Strz/ioitit/s  "ii'cl/hcri  I\e\,  p.  (20. 

A  group  of  sporangia,   x  4. 

A  single  sporangium  as  in  section,   x  40. 

A  single  spore,  same  species,    <    1250. 

Conuj/rit/hi  siilcscforjii  ¥A\.  and  lA..  p.  133. 

9.        A  group  of  sporangia,   x   4. 

10.  A  hit  of  the  capillitium,   x  60. 

11.  A  single  spore,   x    1600. 


Fig. 

12 

Fig. 

'3 

Fig. 

'4 

Coiiuitricha  cccspitosa  Sturg.,  [).  124. 

A  cluster  of  sporangia,   >;   4. 
The  capillitiuivi  highlv  mai;nihed. 
A  single  spore,   x    1600. 


V  ^! 


fii 


i         .: 


254 


.'  f/ 


PLATE    XI 


\    il 


255 


,1  I 


Ki-. 


i:.\i'i./\.\.\ii()\  or  I'l.Aii:  xii 


I .iihlhhiiliii  f'/'/iSi!  (  !'!lii-.  )  l\ii>t..  ]).   154. 


.'■"ii;.     I.         I'"ni(  tilicatinii,  n;itnr;il  si/c. 


'iiilimi  of  same  111  srctinii.    :•    3, 

Jui/i  ///<iri(i  /\'iii/}ri(/,>j/  Hull.,  p.  i4(). 


^''M-    3-         l\i-si(lual  ca|)illili.il  stiucturr.  llie  spoio  hhiw  11  .luav  :  about  natural 


Sl/L'. 


I'.iitcriiliiiiii  ^pl,iiil,-iis  Mor^-..  y.  131. 

I''ni(  til'K  .itiMii.  a  larnL-  mn'.  natiiial  si/c. 
S.nni'  in  sixtidii.    ■     \. 


I.iica  Iiiiillu-iii::)i  i'.cik  .  ]i.  147. 

l''i'4.     (1.        Scaltci'cd  s|)()raii,L;'ia,  ma,L;nitic(l  alxiut  4  times. 
l*'iLi.     (■)(/.     A  siiiL;K'  spoix'.  polar  view,    ■■    140Q. 
Fig.     (lb.      .V  single  spoiv,  c'(|uatoiial  \  iew.    -    1400. 

I.ii'ca  lujn'dl'/li.s  Scluad..  p.   146, 
Fig.     7.        .Spoiangia.  magnilicd  about  6  times. 

Fig.     S.        Spore,  niagnilled  to  show  sui'face  characters. 

Tubifi'iaccisf'aryi  (i\(ist.)  .\l.icbr..  p.   157. 
p'ig.     g.         .\  i;roii[)  ot  sporangia  ;   shows  the  pseudo  columella' :    x   about 

I.iica  /li/'inis  .Morg..  ]>.  147. 
Fig.  10.        .Sporangia  dehiscent,  niagniiied  about  10  times. 

Oinuiclla  (i/tiii'ii/d/i!  Wing.,  p.  138. 
Fig.  II.         .S[)oranL;ia,  ni.ignified  about  30  times. 

L')'ibra)-!a  (Vi;i/ii!.,\i  I'ers..  p.  161. 

l''ig.  12.         .S])or,mL;ia.  magnitied  about   10  times. 
Fi;.;.  Ij.         .\  single  sporangi\uii.  x  iilmut  40. 
See  also  I  Male  XIW 


-:;() 


PLATE    XII 


,) 


257 


1 1 


l.M'I.ANA  ri()\    »>!■     I'l.AII.    Ml 


PI 


m-' 


I'V.i 


Ki-. 
Fi-. 
Fi-. 


I . 
I  ii. 


:.  <f. 


i.i;--  4- 


1.^- 


"1-.  r,. 


1'  l.U- 

Fi-. 
Fi-. 


/• 
7</. 


/ /iirr<>/ri<  /lilt  i^'iilir/ii/ir  Mass..  p.  igS. 

A  i;i'"'M'  "'^I'l'i'iii'ui'i"  "lie  t'\|).iii(k'(l.  ilir  others  empty,  x   15. 
(,'a|iillirniiii  of  the  spt'cies,  x  600. 

Cithntciiia  lUirri////  .Morn.,  p.  20S. 

,\  chister  oj"  spoiani;ia.  ina'^iiilied  alioiit   15  times. 
Tile  lip  of  an  elater  ol  the  same  species.  /.    1000. 
.\  single  spore,  ,-,    1000. 
A  l)it  of  the  s[)()ran,nium  wall.  /   600. 

.S'A •/;/('// ///>■  /ui/lu/ii  Wiii'^..  p.  123. 
SporaiiLiia.  mannilied  about  5  times. 

CoiihUrii  hit  ftiilJuila  (I'.ali.)  Rosl  .  p.  129. 
Sporangia,  maniiilied  about  15  times. 

Stciiioiiilis  laroliiieiisis  .Macbr..  [>.  122. 
.Sporangia.  maL^nilied  about  15  times. 

Clastoticniiii  tlcharvaiiiiiii  IlUtt..  p.  13.S. 
.Spoi-au^ium.  uiai;nilied  about  Ao  times. 

7)'/(/U(!  iiuilniid  Kost..  p.  210. 

Tip  of  au  idatei".  x    1400. 

.Spoiv  of  the  same  species,  x   1400. 

'Irii'liia  Intlrvlis  I'eis..  p.  216. 

Ti|)  of  the  elater.  x    1400. 

Spore  ol  the  sauie  s[)ecies.    •:    1400. 


258 


PLATE    XIII 


259 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^'' «». 


v^ 


<'*\«* 


<" 


1.0 


1.1 


8^128    |2.5 

|iO     ^^^        ■■■ 

1^  1^    |2.2 

H:  i:^  ii;!l20 


1.25  il 


1.4 


III 


1.6 


vl 


n 


d^ 


.^ 


'^ 


'V' 


A>^ 


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V 


>^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  USEO 

(716)872-4S03 


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i..\i'i..\\.\ii().\  oi'   I'l.Aii:  .\i\ 


vm 


III 


Ik 

l-'i; 


lu 


Ml 


Ml 


!•  IL 


PuuHhiiiiiii  iilrliiliiii^  (  liiill.)   Ilcik..  |).  A7. 

1.  .A  clllsl<T  of  s|)()r;ini;i;l.     ■     10. 

(  it-iikou'skiii  >■,■//  iiLilii  (  .\.  and  S  )  l\()>t..  j).  So. 

2.  I'l.i^iniKliiir.irp.    -15. 

111.     A  hit  111  the  ciiiillitiimi  of  the  >,imr.    •    S^o. 
J /'.      .\  >iiiL;Ii'  >|)iiir.   A   1000. 

/'/ivuinii//  (ii/i  '    iilf>nini  (<  kc. )  l.i-.t.,  ]>    jS, 
(Tnjh'  lit  /'.  iii'Uitinn  M.ulir. ) 
V         S|inr,inL;i.i.    ■    ;5. 
}^(t.     \  |)icicut  caiiiilitiinn.    •    Soo. 
3/'.      A  >iii-lc  >|icirc.    •    1000      'liic  idu-inu  >^  mm  li  f\aL;ni'Mti(l 

r>(ulli,iiiil(i  di/i/i /i/,i/,i  Kc\.  |).  (\(). 

4.  A  .ui'nup  1)1   s|)iiranL;ia.    •    10. 

riiYsdimu  Hi:,'ti<iu  Mail  r  .  p.  37. 

5.  A  L^fuiip  (ii  spdiaii'^ia.        1^1 
'  i< ■      A  --inL^lf  '-pdic.    ■    1000. 

3/'.      A  liil  111  tliL'  capilliliuni.    ■   .Soo. 

r/i\'Miniiii  iiht,  iihil  :iiii  Wa(\\x..  Y    47. 
''1.         .\  ilustcr  (it'  sp.iiaiiui.i.        10 
(ill.     .\  iiifcr  111"  t!ic  tapilliiial  iirt.    •   Soo. 
(ill.      A  siiiL;le'  spiHc,    ■    Sod. 


/.,■/'/,/  'i/,-r///ii  ti 


•I  III II III . 


Fij;.  7-        A 


'idiip  III  >iii)raiiL;i.i. 


i    I 


260 


,  a 


FI.ATK    XIV 


,i^  s'¥  ^u-i 

■■■•/'      ft  •'-■■>"*' 


^01 


i:.\l'L.\N,\  I  ION    ()!•     I'l.ATI.    .W 


I'iU-  I- 
Ki.i;.  I  /k 


Fi-.  2. 
]-']•'.  1,1. 


Fi.U.  4- 
••"i,U-  4"- 
Kit;.  4/". 


F'j;-  5- 


!  U 


F 

'.U- 

c. 

F 

iii- 

(ui 

I-- 

1  '"' 

7- 

I- 

I"* 

7" 

1- 

.*^  * 

7/' 

/'/ivsiii  !/>/!  ,ttniiii  Sriiw  .,  |i.  3''". 

S|)(ii-,iii'^i,i  nil  ilic  l.ivoritL'  li.iliit.il.  nia^iiirud. 

( ■.iliillitiiim,  •<   .Sod. 

.\  sin;;k-  spore.    :■     I200. 

riiysiiniiii  Jirl'ii>h/i-iiii/  Kosi,.  p.  41. 

A  ^rouji  ui  spl)l•.lll^i;^  .-tipit.ilc  lunii.    •    10. 
A  siiiL^ic  spuic.   X    I. ''00. 

J'//\'.\iini)/i  //(iriii'/m/i//  lii'ik..  j).  53. 

A  cluster  of  .ipor.in.Liia.  (HK'  clnscd.    ■    10. 
A  siiii;k'  spore,   x    1 200. 

/'//vsinuii!  tri'pi.alc  Machr..  p.  45. 

Sporangia,   x    10 

C'.ipilliliimi.    '    Soo. 

A  single  spoiv.    ■;    1 200. 

Cid/riin/ii  iiiiiuitiiiii  (Li't'i's)  I''i..  p.  jX. 
Spoiannia.  tin.'  stalks  uiuisuall\  Ioiil;.  ma;;nilk'(l. 

J'liysiii  Kill  fhiit'ti  ale  l\k'\.  p.  55. 

A  uioiip  of  s|)oraiiuia:   tlii'  lalcaiious  niist  has  tallfii  in  a!!. 
A  siiink'  spoiaii,nia.  L'niarL;f(l  to  show  colmiK'iia. 

Pliysannii  ii'<  lOiv^iiciisc  .MaiKr..  p.  43. 

A  nioiip  ot  sporangia.    •    10. 
Capilliliinii.  strongly  Lakaicous.    ■    Soo. 
A  siiii^k'  spoil'.    ■     1000. 


262 


!  I.; 


PLATE    XV 


263 


i:.\i'i,.\.\.\ii().\  ()!■   iM.Aii:  wi 


^ .) 


ut 


r, 


Plivsiiiilln  ohl.niiui  (  II.  and  C  )  M.ir^..  p.  71. 
I' i.ii-   '•         A  L;rciu|)  ol   ^;)()|■■lllL;i.l.  tliiuc  c\|),iii(lr(l.    ■    10. 

Ihdcniia  lytillii  (.^|.l^.s.)  .M.iilir..  p.  <;(;. 
Mn.  2.         .\  ( Iii^lLT  of  spor.iii;;!;!.    ■     10. 

/'////Kidih  /ir  ((>/// f>ii,  /(I  Will:;.,  p.  (\\ . 
\-\'^.  T,.         A  L^itiiip  nf  spi)r,iiii;ia.  one  (ipiii.    ■     10. 


I.i'ihiii />//\  fiilriis  .M.ulir..  |).  Sj. 
4-         .\  iiroiip  (if  sp(ir:iii'.;i;i.    •     10. 
4''-     Cipillitium  sliDwinL;  t  li.ir.u  tiM  istit  c  .ilcanous  iiodulcs.   x   Soo. 

/>/,/,i  1/1(1  I  iii^dsiiz/i  (\<(\)  .M.uIji-..  j)    105. 
I'iU-  5.         A(lu>tti(il   si)(iiaiii;i.i.    •.    10. 

Crd/tii'/////  iniiiiiindii  W.  ami  ("..  p.  77. 
I*i,!i.  6.        Two  spdiaiinia.  (iiic  cldscd.    ■    10. 

Ihdyiiiiiiiii  iiitcllits  Mdii^..  p.  Sj^. 

Fiji-  7.        A   cluster  of  sp(iran-ia.    ■    10.      'I'lic  pniiiiosc  coatinjn  cjf  the 
pLTidium  is  not  lir(iui;lit  (,iit. 

l'>liiyiiiiiiiii  iojiipltiiiahiiii  (Ilatscli)  Kost..  p.  X^. 
Fi<i.  .S.        Capillitiuni  witli  characteristic  vesicles.    -5. 

lUdyiiiiiiiii  cxi  mill  III  Peck.  p.  92. 
Fij;.  9.        .Section  throii-h  the  columella.  alUi  Moi-aii. 

niiiviiiiiiiii  iii'^rific<  l'"fies..  p    91. 
Fi<;.  10.      Section  through  the  sporangium.    ■    10. 

niihriiur  lithit/iitiim  Rost..  ]>.  05. 
Fig.  11.      .Sporangia  and  plasinodiocari.s.  hiL;hlv  ma^nilicd. 


264 


PLATF.    XVI 


26!^ 


i..\i'i..\\.\ri().\  <ii    I'l,  \  11.  w  II 


Mn'  f? 


Ki^. 


l-i' 


l\-  4 


( 'r//'r,/,/ir  in 'j;ill,i,  rii  (I'tT-..  I  Si  In, id  .  |).  \(\\ . 
i;;.  I.         S|)ui',iiiL;iiim.  Iii-lilv   in.i^niru'd. 

(  li/t)  it) /(I  //hit  Id  ill  fill  St  li;,i(l..  |i    i^pI. 
S|)(ir,iiiL;iiiin.  Iiinlilv  in.iL;iiilirtl. 

I'lihiiti  ill  iiniiniliii,  ii  S(liiM(i..  |).  1^)4. 
.S|iiii,iiiL;iiiiii  colli. liniiii;  s|)nrc>.    ■     50. 

Liihiiiihi  iiihr,hiii/ui  Stlirad..  p.  \(\-] . 
S|ii)iMiiniiiiii  cont. lining  '>|iuri's.    ■    p. 

Cnhiiiyiii  tiiirliii  Sclirad..  |i.  1C17. 
5.         SiMUMHi^iuni  colli. lining  s|)oifs.    •    40. 

i'nliiiii  III  i/nini/iw.'iiiii  Silnv..  p.   |6_<. 

'''•        A  ^iii-lc  >|)()r,iii-iiiiii  c'.il\(  iil.itc.    •    ^o. 
I'ii;.  (*ii.     .\  >ni.illcr  ^por.iiiLiiiiin  without  (.il\\.  witji  ,s:w)i-c-ni, 

Ciiliiiii  ill  I  ufiriii  Moil;.,  p.  \-;\. 
I'i^.  7.         \  single  >por.iiiL;iiim.    -50. 

Cnoriiriii  -,'i<iiiiii\i  \\v\.  p.  iTlS. 
Ml;.  S.         .\  siiii^lc  spor.inL;iimi.  "•    40. 


\-V'. 


Fi. 


'',;;■•  <)• 


Cnhriiiiii  t'irij'iii  iitis  Sclirad..  p.  1A6. 
.\  sin-lc  >por.inL;iiiin.    ■    30. 


Fii 


Peril  luriiii  ill' f>ii-<.<ii  (l.ilurt)  l\o>t..  p.  1.S3. 
10.      A  clu.^lci  ol  >poi.mL;ia.  one  open.    •   K. 


■"iii 


Ml 


2()() 


Pl.ATF.    XVII 


■  ni.i^^.s- 


2t< 


I 

I 


i:.\i'i..\\  \  I  ii)\  (»!•    I'l.A  1 1;  will 


'■  ii,''   '•      'Tip  "I  '111'  I'lnply  s|i(ir.iiiL;iimi.  liiu;liK   ni,iL;iiilir(l. 
I'  iiini  nii(  1 1  i-plii)l(ii;r.i))li. 

Sit-in. >iiili\  /utili, fit  Wini^.  p.  ij^. 

I' i'4.  2.      'I'ip  (il  the  s|i(ii-;iiiL;iun).  (iiiiily.  m.i'j.niruil  ;i>  l"i-.  i. 
I'  iMin  iiii(i(i-nlii)i(i^ia|ili. 

/\\it,  >//,n/ii  (v,  ,i/>rr,/ III  I'liill..  |).   141). 
I'i'-;-  .1       .I'.tli, ilium.  iKiiiii.iJ  ^i/c.     'I  he  tnnc\  i^  ^ihcr-wliit'j 


li 


26S 


PLATE    XVIII 


IPwr- 


^|«WiC*^?J»r^, 


.'^'. 

SScT^. 

^t^^4>- 

.:M 

V^VTLf^'' 

^■% 

^^"^^^s 

N^a^r?« 

v«^ 

ijKfife^. 

^sn 

'\jc!'/>C#* 

;-iV4 

*?ti|^itej-*'* 

\  <y 

I^^^Wi 

?''^5^ 

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Kl' 

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\lh 


A  STUDY  OF  THE  BIOLOGY  OF 

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BY  THE  COLLODION  METHOD 
By  GEORGE   F.   ATKINSON 

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of  the  development  and  morphology  of  ferns. 

rl  o     r°?r"     "•    ™'  ^°^'°"'  '"""""■"-'  '^3  in  number 
many  of  them  e  aborate   are  all  fi-r.r«      •  •     .    . 

.u      ,  "^  °"S'"^'  drawings  made  bv  the 

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of  the  IT   .  '  *  ■  "  ^"  "^^  '"^  ^°  ^'^^'  -"  -count 

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Professor  of  Horticulture  in  the  Cornell  University 

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LABORATORY  PRACTICE   FOR  BEGINNERS 

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